Uprooted

Uprooted. This word jumped out to me while hubby and I were on our weekly chat with other Christian bloggers Saturday morning. Our lovely friend Hannah described a large tree she discovered while taking a walk. It had fallen over; it hadn’t cracked or broken, but had been completely uprooted.

When she showed us a photo of the tree’s massive root ball jutting sideways, I thought: “THAT’S what life has felt like for the past year!” Ripped from the ground, disconnected from its source of strength and nourishment, no longer able to stand.

A tree, however, is not a human being. As believers in Christ we have a root system that no natural disaster can disrupt. Jesus tells his followers, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” (John 15:5-7, NIV)

So I should never feel uprooted, right? If I do, then it means I must have done something wrong, correct? No. It means I’m human, and life is hard sometimes. Things have NOT been going my way – or anybody else’s way – since the COVID outbreak. Fellowship with my biological family, my family of faith, my circle of friends, my neighbors, even my coworkers has been nearly nonexistent for more than 12 months. I did nothing to create these circumstances and I am powerless to change them.

But I am thankful that Jesus encourages me in the midst of this powerlessness. Remember, HE is NEVER powerless! After he talks to his followers about the true vine, he goes on to declare his love: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” (John 15:9, NIV) Love that cannot be taken away, cannot be diminished, cannot be earned. So I’m going to remain in his love and see where that takes me. One thing I know for sure: there’s no better place for me to put down roots that will last.