Uprooted for Good

A few months ago, I watched from my bedroom window

as a team of men and machines worked to remove a 100-year old oak tree across
the lawn from where we live. It was beautiful, massive in size and just
looking at it made me wonder of the things it had seen, sitting in its place as
long as it had been. Now, I sat with my children, amazed that something
that appeared so “rooted” could be so quickly torn down. Seriously? Just
like that? A tree growing for 100 years with roots deeply burrowed into
the soil below…cut down and turned into firewood in a day? It didn’t seem
right.

Then I found out that a disease had overtaken it

from within. A disease compromising the very integrity of the tree had
begun running through its veins. It was hard to tell from where I stood,
but when I looked more closely, I could see the way the disease had began
changing the color of the leaves sprouting from its branches. It was
dead. What looked alive on the surface, had been dying inside for a long
time, and only now had someone discovered the signs and decided to take action.

This tree was positioned on the edge of a playground.
It’s mature branches stretched out over my kids as they played in the sand
below. Once I learned that the branches that seemed so perfect on the outside,
were at risk of falling, I was thankful for the hard work of that team.

In one day, a mature oak tree was turned into pile

of firewood. We mourned the loss of its life, still in awe that something
so established could be so dead inside. The very next day, a new sapling
was planted in its place. It was another oak, young and vibrant.
Once the dead was gone, new life sprung up in its place, full of hope and
promise of greater days to come.

I’ve walked with Jesus since I was young, and sometimes feel a little

like that old oak. No, I’m not even close to 100 years old, but I’ve been
planted for a while, and consider myself deeply rooted in all He is
about. I love Him profoundly more than I ever imagined I could and learn
daily that He has more for me than I ever thought possible. Watching this
old oak made me think…where am I rooted these days?
Is it where moth and rust destroy?

Am I placing my hope in things of this world? If so, the disease of envy,
jealousy and pride will tear those dreams down every time.
Instead, the beautiful journey of that old oak reminded me
that God will not allow me to grab hold of temporary things without a fight.
He loves me too much to let one of His created ones find passion in
something ultimately unfulfilling and dance in counterfeit joy. So here’s the
crazy prayer I pray…Lord, I want to be uprooted, destroyed, and corrected so I
can find my way back to the narrow path – the one less travelled –
the way everlasting, where my roots and heart will always find a place secure.