Raíces: Rooted in Faith, Familia, and Friendship

During the first two months of the year 2020, my husband and I were preparing to sell our first house.  We loved that house and were proud of it but it was time for a change.

I staged my home myself with low-priced items from the local Ross and Marshalls to give it the best chance at a good sale.  Among the new curtains, artwork and pottery purchases were three real plants.  A baby Monstera, a bird of paradise, and a pothos.  When the pandemic shutdown meant we were postponing the sale of our house for what would end up being another year, my plant addiction began.

My green thumb thrived.  I had a few missteps but for the most part, I still have today the plants I bought during that time.  The learning curve was fun and it became extremely therapeutic.  I was able to distract myself and focus my nurturing energy on my greenies. 

Jesus spoke in parables; real life examples that were metaphors for the kingdom of God.  I enjoy all of them but, wouldn’t you know, I’ve always particularly favored the ones tilted toward agriculture.  Read the Parable of the Four Soils in Matthew 13, for example.  He explains how a seed produces, if at all, in different ways depending on the kind of soil it falls on.  This is a metaphor for how the same word of God will go out and will produce differently, if at all, depending on the “soil” of the heart receiving it.

I’d like to share a metaphor from what I have learned about houseplants.  One thing I enjoy about plants is when it is time to repot, and I get to see the root system!  The roots are literally life to the plant.    

For most plants, the water is taken up through the roots.   You won’t see it in the soil but you’ll know if you’re doing something wrong above the soil.  Overwatering can cause root rot – mushy and sometimes stinky roots that will result in the plant’s quick decline.  You may have to cut out the rot to give a plant its best chance to survive.  Under-watering is just as dangerous.  It will dry out an otherwise large root system and, again, the stems and leaves will let you know that they are dry!

Some babies like to be “root bound”.  This means when they are planted, they prefer a small house with tight quarters.  Too much space will make the leaves wilted or sparse.  Others want plenty of space because the root systems grow quick.  They like oxygen and water wherever they can reach.

When it is time to repot, you can’t go up too many sizes too quickly.  This will cause the soil to get waterlogged.  There won’t be enough roots to drink what’s available so water will sit and, you may have guessed, cause root rot. It could also invite pests to thrive in the moisture.

Once I was repotting a spider plant.  The plant itself was not very big but the root system was thick and luscious.  I repotted, not knowing at the time that they liked to be root bound, and I near killed it.  I really thought it was gone when all I had was three tiny leaves in the middle of this big pot.  I put it out on the porch (sick bay) and completely left it alone except for a very occasional watering.  I knew the roots had looked great a month prior, so I hoped that something positive might happen.  After a month, she started going crazy with growth.  I kept leaving her to it!  Today, more than a year later, she is huge and has so many spider babies.  One of my favorites.

Before I share with you my thoughts on roots related to finding a church home, did anything stick out to you that you feel you can apply to yourself and your situations?

We are little plants and when we are looking for a church, we hope to put down roots and “grow where we are planted”. How do you know where you should grow?  Consider your root system.

Do you like to be root bound?  You are not keen on constant changes, and you want to be in a tight-knit circle.  Smaller groups/congregations might be great for you.  Your roots can remain strong which gives room for a lot of pretty greenery to grow.

Did you “upgrade” your surroundings for something new and exciting and then felt like you began to wilt?  If you lose interest, it might be an indication that you went too many sizes up from where you were.  Change is good but too much change or too broad of an approach can shock your root system.  Be wise making big leaps if you tend to find yourself easily overwhelmed.

Are you watering yourself from too many sources and finding that your roots are waterlogged? It’s possible you can’t take in as much as you thought.  Cut the sogginess and the stinkiness of what has accumulated and start fresh.  Make sure the Word is your main substrate.  Other views, including people’s “Christian” ideas, should be considered but not to the point that your heart becomes confused. 

Are you so dry that what you did know is starting to wither away, making you unsure of what you believe anymore?  Start with small amounts of water – the foundational scriptures your soil has always been anchored to.  (Too much water in a super dry season could shock the soil, too.)  Don’t be afraid to take baby steps to regain what you lost. The Source is still available and can bring you the refreshing you need.

A word on pruning.  Many times, a plant may be growing but it needs to be pruned.  There are many reasons for that.  Regarding roots, though, sometimes pruning is necessary because the plant is young.  Plant experts know that a good pruning of leaves or flowers trains the plant to put its energy in the root system before the foliage. 

Don’t seek the limelight before you truly know the love of God in your life.  Your gifts look great but if your foundation is immature, you as a plant will topple over and not be able to sustain your growth.  Reminder: immaturity has nothing to do with age.

I get teased about my hobby.  I also get encouraged.  I receive plants memes from friends almost daily. I’ve had to talk myself down from many purchases. My husband openly hopes days of bringing home a new plant are few and far between.  It’s something that I am fully enjoying as I knock at the door of my Señora era.  I am grateful for the nourishment it gives my soul and the lessons that my plant babies teach me.  God cares about me so much that He talks to me even in this.