Tending To Our Roots

The night before our most recent move, Owen chose the Bible story and we ended up in Ecclesiastes, discussing why there is, indeed, a 'time for everything'. Right there in the midst of our haggard packing boxes (which have since been thrown away, may they rest in peace) I found myself getting emotional over the words, 'a time to plant and a time to uproot,' (3:2)
We've been uprooting for years and, while a big part of me loves the adventure, I also grow weary of the transitioning. I long for deeper friendships and a community to truly plug into. This verse was a gentle reminder that there is and will be a time for both; there will be seasons in my life for planting deep roots (and that it's already happening in ways that have very little to do with a physical address).
I just finished Whisper, an excellent book by Mark Batterson, and he spoke about this truth as well, 'Simply put, you need to know what season you're in. If you don't, you'll get frustrated trying to harvest when it's time to plant or trying to plant when it's time to let the land lie fallow.' 

So here we are, settled in our newest home, investing serious thought and prayer into the discerning of what season we are in. We currently live in eastern Virginia, where Derek is hard at work as an Insurance Adjuster. We are incredibly thankful for the ways God is faithfully providing. And we know that this season has the potential to alter the course of our story, as each season truly does, depending on how we steward our time here and the opportunities before us.
While I may not be a plant expert, I do know that regardless of whether you are planting or uprooting a tree, it still needs specific, life-giving things. After a quick Google search and talking with my husband, the only one around here with a green thumb, I can tell you that the roots of a transported tree must be wrapped in burlap and moved with great care. The tree needs to be kept in a cool, shady spot and the roots must be soaked in water before transplanting. Damaged roots must be removed and there are fairly specific requirements for the hole you eventually plant in. Moral of the story: even during seasons of uprooting, we must still nurture and tend to our lives, our marriage, our family and our soul- gypsy as it may be.

We must surround ourselves with, and be intentional about, that which gives life- whether we've been in the same city for twenty years or have an ongoing bet for how many months we'll stay in this new location. You may be waiting for the new job to start, or you may be up to your eyeballs in current assignments (or dishes, or laundry, or lesson plans or whatever it is that you do!) Regardless of who we are, I am learning the absolute necessity of staying consistent with a few, simple things that breathe LIFE back into us on a very regular basis. My Dad reminds me that they make you put your own oxygen mask on before assisting anyone else on a turbulent plane ride. If we are not directly connected to that which gives life, we are no help to anyone else around us.
             'The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.' Job 33:4 
I realize that we will each have unique lists of what makes us come alive. But I do believe that at the heart of every life-giving moment or activity is the One who truly breathes life INTO us. Nothing apart from the Life-Giver can actually give life. But if 'every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights..' (James 1:17) then we can be confident that He is in the details and His goodness is evident in the simplest of moments, the most epic of thrills, and the sweetest of butterfly kisses.

     All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. (John 1:3-4)

Our lives are refreshed by worshipping the Creator of life; recognizing and giving thanks for His faithfulness and mercy in every situation. But what does that actually look like in our day-to-day? I'm trying to become increasingly aware of what gives me life and then allowing space for it because that is how I tend to my roots. Also, we teach by example and I have two little men watching my every move. I pray that my boys remember a Mama who was intentional about the few things that truly matter in this life.
Here's a few of my daily doses of life-giving 'stuff':
Sitting down and drinking my coffee out of a favorite mug, not in a rush to get the caffeine pumping through my tired body, but a slow sipping while the day wakes up and I prepare to meet it.
Putting the Word of God into my mind- even just a chapter- before I let the world, my to-do lists, or social media have any say.
Stretching.
Being aware of the ways God has answered or is answering prayer; there is no such thing as coincidence.
Fresh flowers on the table.
Music.
Being kind to complete strangers in the grocery store.
Laughter and silliness!
Paddle boarding on the river; long, smooth strokes through glassy liquid (or riding the wake from passing boats as the boys pretend we're on the ocean!)
Tending to my roots comes in countless forms. It's taking the time to hold my sleepy two year old against my chest, nose buried in the sweet smell of his hair. It's running through the grass after my four year old, who is surprisingly FAST and hard to catch! Sitting next to my husband and simply enjoying each other's presence gives me life. But all of these are choices and only happen when I slow down long enough to be present and recognize that moment or person for the gift they truly are.

I understand that there is work to be done and for many of you it happens outside of the home. We can't all just splash in the waves and build blanket forts with our kids each day. (And stay-at-home parents, I hear you, people thinking that is all we do in a day have-no-idea what goes into taking care of a home and keeping tiny humans alive!) I'm not saying the work doesn't matter; it's absolutely vital and we are instructed, 'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord..' (Colossians 3:23)

Work is a gift from God; allowing work to take over every millisecond of our time and focus is not. At the very beginning, the Creator did exquisite work for six days and then He rested!! Not because He needed it, but to show us how it's done! (Genesis 2:2-3) There has to be balance, for our sake and the sake of those around us. Roots need water whether they are below or above ground and each of us need daily doses of the life-giving stuff, regardless of our current season or circumstances! I promise that making time for a few life-giving practices will be 100% worth it and quite possibly even enable us to do our work that much better!

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6-7) 

Our lack of 'roots' in becoming established with a community and growing deeper friendships has left me feeling especially vulnerable or lonely many times throughout the past few years. But on a much deeper level, I AM rooted. And these roots which connect to the Source of Life, continue to hold me steady when everything else is transitory. These roots make all the difference.

It's a long walk up to the dirt road where our mailbox is and I love making that trek in the last exhale of day, as night wraps everything up in cool and calm. I breathe deeply, in and out, thinking 'I should do more of this!' I savor the feeling of what I'm realizing is a form of worship! It's something I know to be life-giving and it inspires the desire to squeeze every last drop of potential from my day!
After my walk the other night, Derek and I got the boys out of bed to see the lightning bugs twinkling across the field. We chased after them with our glass jars, giggling and exclaiming over the bugs' awesomeness, and my not-so-ninja attempts at catching them! Summer time is pure delight and the God who makes these summer nights, longs to be delighted in. So, the question is why we actually need to be reminded to make time for all this. Why are we forgetting (or choosing not to make time for) our Creator and ourselves and our people; for snuggling and laughing, worshipping and stretching, sipping coffee and smiling at the cashier?!

We must realize that when it comes to anything life-giving, the Enemy will do his absolute best to distract and pull away and tell us we don't have the time. Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10) and that certainly unfolds in horrific, dramatic ways throughout history. But I think it also happens a thousand times each day, in the little ways, as we allow him to kill joy, steal moments and destroy peace.
It's surprising how much time I actually allot to that which doesn't give me life! To-do lists or people's opinions of me or excess amounts of social media; things that are not necessarily bad but can certainly distract from the real reasons I'm on this planet. I'm starting to think of these things as the dead roots that need to be trimmed in order to keep the tree healthy. We can give so much of ourselves to running to and fro, filling every space on the calendar, and keeping up appearances that we miss opportunities to hear from God, fuel our tanks, and love our people well.
It's Jesus that warns us of Satan and his deceiving, distracting ways. His very next words are the reminder of Who we run to for hope in this fallen world, 'I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.' (John 10:10) May we press into the Life-Giver, recognizing the countless ways He is at work in and around us each day, and intentionally tend to our roots.