Are you a tumbleweed or a redwood?
Do you know what makes a tumbleweed so susceptible to the wind? It only puts down one root, and that root is very shallow. So, it is easily uprooted when the wind blows, going wherever the wind pushes it without any sense of direction or stability.
Are there any “tumbleweeds” in your life? Could it be you? It may be tempting to put down shallow roots in your own life. Shallow roots are easier and they don’t require as much work. Less self discipline, fewer hard choices, more convenient and fun?
On the other hand, a redwood tree’s root system may surprise you!
Living on the west coast of California, I saw a lot of redwood trees. They are big! Weighing up to 500 tons, reaching over 350 feet tall, they live for many centuries.
Something that huge would seem to need an incredible
root system that goes down deep in order to stand that tall and to withstand strong winds, earthquakes, and storms.
But the sequoia redwood trees have a unique root system. Their roots are relatively shallow with no tap root to anchor them deep into the earth. The roots only go down 6-12 feet.
The interesting thing about redwood trees is that their root systems are intertwined with the other redwood trees, literally holding each other up. Only redwoods have the strength and ability to support other redwoods.
The trees grow very close together in groves and are dependent on each other for nutrients as well.
It’s like there’s an army of folks who have their arms interlocked, standing and supporting each other. They prevent the adversaries of life from knocking each other down.
So…
- Do you belong to a “grove” that supports you and allows you to support others?
- Do you contribute to the success of your grove?
- Or are you living a “tumbleweed” life?
- And if so, what would you do to change that?
