How Healthy is Your Root System?

During my Bible reading I came across a few verses that referred to trees. Job 10:7-9, "For there is hope for a tree. When it is cut down, that it will sprout again. And it's shoots will not fall. Though it's roots grow old in the ground and it's stump dies in the dry soil, at the scent of water it will flourish and put forth sprigs like a plant."

Now trees are amazing! In fact, there is much we can learn from them.

Take the roots for instance. They have three functions: support, storage and nutrient pick-up. Interestingly they don't necessarily grow very deep but stick to the top 18-25 inches of soil. They are the foundations of the tree but unlike a skyscraper which needs to have a deep foundation to keep it supported, roots support by extending out twice as far as the longest branch in all directions. This keeps it from falling over. They have to remain shallow because it's where the oxygen is.

The root system is amazing in itself. The fat roots are at the base of the trunk and store food kind of like a savings account. It provides food during stressful times like hot, dry conditions. Hair roots are the very tiny fuzzy roots that pick up nutrients and water.

Then we come to the trunk which has many important parts in itself:

The bark is the outside layer which protects the tree from insects, diseases and injuries. It can be smooth or rough. The inner bark is called Phloem. Phloem carries food from the leaves to other parts of the tree.

Next is the Cambium layer. It's an active layer of cells that change into either Phloem or will produce xylem. Phloem usually turns into bark and xylem into heartwood. Each year this layer grows new wood just inside the bark. It adds a new "annual ring" to the tree. Interestedly the distance between the annual rings are not the same because growing conditions change each year. The better the growing conditions, the greater the distance between the rings. Xylem is also called sapwood and carries oxygen and nutrients from the roots to the leaves.

Next comes the Heartwood. This is old xylem cells plugged up with chemical substances. It has no living cells and does not conduct food or water. It's important because it gives the tree structural support. Hallow trees tend to break during storms but trees with inner support will remain standing.

Now we come to the branches. Branches are the extensions of the trunk where the buds are formed. Buds are future leaves which in turn is future food for the tree. Leaves have a function called Photosynthesis which is the process of changing the raw materials and carbon dioxide and water in the presences of sunlight and chlorophyll which in turn changes into sugars or food for the tree. During this process leaves give off oxygen. Once the food is made it moves through the leaf's veins, through the stem, to the Phloem and transported to parts of the tree for growth or storage.

Tree growth can be controlled by wet and dry seasons and grow throughout all 4 seasons:

Winter - Trees look dormant but aren't. They are able to withstand the extreme temperatures and not get hurt.

Spring - The grow starts when it's still very cool.

Summer - Tree growth can be fast during this time. But it is often slowed down in dry and hot conditions.

Fall - Warm days and cool nights cause changes and leaves will fall off in preparation for winter where it will need what it grew to get it through the difficult weather.

I explain all this because we are like trees in the way we rely upon God. We grow or don't grow through different seasons of our lives. Sometimes we grow quickly and other times not. Conditions we experience can hamper our development. Good seasons strengthen us for the harsher seasons.

Our root system is vital to our existence. Our roots not only should be deep but far reaching. And we need to make sure we keep them healthy so they can support, store and feed us. If we don't have that support our branches will not bud and future food will not be provided. And that all comes from God and our relationship with Him. We have to strengthen our roots by reading God's Word, memorizing it and worshiping with other believers. How healthy is your root system?

Krista Jones
6.5.08

Bible Reading:

Beginning to End: Exodus 13-15
Old and New Testaments Together: Exodus 4-6 & Matthew 14:22-36
Historical: Exodus 13-15
Chronological: Genesis 30-31
Blended: Isaiah 3-4 & Mark 1:23-45

The Bible reading guides will be taken from Back to the Bible