Supporting Roots

Most of my life I’ve had employment that was fit for the purpose of man. I’ve generally been involved in the building, rebuilding or simply planning and carrying out those plans to the end product. Much of my adult work has centered on the automotive industry, which has had the tendency to educate me in many areas of life. Much of what I learned has helped me tremendously in my most recent job which at times keeps me on my toes to see that everything gets completed on time, day in and day out. Right now along with my regular duties we’re planning for the construction of a parking lot at the church building. There are a lot of people to talk with as to the best way to complete the project in a safe and productive manner. Things on the property, underground, must be located such as water, sewer and gas lines. Rainwater run off must be considered. What are we going to do with all the dirt that’s fixin’ to be removed? So far all the bases are being covered, I think, and we’ll be ready to start the middle of next week, I hope. Well anyway, if everyone will do what they’re supposed to do it will all work out perfect.
You probably know of the redwood tree, but you may not know that the only place in the world it’s found to be growing is on the west coast of America. I’ve stood among some of them and they are an awesome sight. Truly they are the giants of the tree world towering 300 feet or more and having been living for over one thousand years. Just think, when Columbus landed on the eastern shores of America, some of these redwoods were already 600 years old. So what’s the secret of the redwood? How can it last so long and endure so much? Unlike other trees whose taproot goes deep into the ground giving it support, the redwood has no taproot. The redwood sends its roots outwardly on the average of three times its height. That means a giant redwood, 300 feet in height, has a root system 900 feet in diameter at its base. So, if all the trees in the area do the same thing that means their roots are totally intertwined supporting one another. Their roots are woven together so tightly there’s no way any of them could fall over. It is held up by the strength of the trees around it and you’ll never find a redwood standing alone.
[Hebrews 10: 19-25] In 2004 Congress proclaimed the oak tree the official national tree, I suppose, because it is found in most states in one variety or another. The redwood came in second. That’s a shame, because if anything represents the “united we stand; divided we fall” attitude of the United States citizens, the Redwood Forest would be it. What a lesson God has placed before us. It seems that life has been designed in such a way that almost nothing I want to do can be done alone. The writer of the Hebrew book blatantly reminds us that in our Christian walk, if we try it alone we will fall. Why attend worship and why be with my brothers and sisters in Christ on every opportunity I have? We have a common ground, Christ Jesus. The writer says “let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful” and that we should “spur one another on”. Folks, that means we must work with one another. Together with friends and family our lives must become woven and intertwined with love and hope, strengthening one another with the encouragement we need to keep our eye on the goal, life everlasting with the Creator and the Maker of all things. The day is approaching of Jesus’ return. Have you got someone to hold on to? Have you got Jesus to hold you up?