It was time to refresh the front flower bed (at a previous house). There was a tight group of azalea plants which had seen better days and were about to be exchanged for a simpler planting. To say they resisted my efforts is to underestimate the painful task before me. While they are indisputably lovely to look at when healthy and in bloom, they are thorny beasts to remove. It felt like I was tackling some kind of cactus! They were not going silently in the night – or the afternoon either for that matter.
The second task was the magnolia tree that had been planted a mere foot from the house’s foundation. I had already, on multiple occasions, cut it back as it began to stretch skyward. A landscaper, in the tree’s defense, said that it was just doing what God had designed it to do. He did agree, however, that it was unwise for it to be growing so close to the house and would never be thwarted in its efforts to expand to 20 feet horizontally and 80 feet vertically. Removal was the only solution. Sensing this was a job beyond my abilities, I engaged his services. He was sad to take down a healthy tree, but agreed it was for the best. He cut all the roots in a wide circle around the tree, leaving just the taproot. He had a super duty truck which he used to pull it out. With a heavy chain wrapped around it, it took several valiant tries and when that taproot finally gave way, it sounded like cannon shot!
Both the azaleas and the magnolia tree were firmly rooted, in no danger of flying off in the wind or being flooded out. They impressed me with their tenacity. They knew their ‘job’ and knew how to grow according to their design.
When we become followers of Jesus, like the millions who’ve gone before us, we are likewise ‘re-designed’ to become firmly rooted. Gradually, we take on his character, his humility, his resilience, his single-eyed focus, and we develop a love and joy uniquely ‘Kingdom of God.’ This lifelong process is our journey to the Father’s heart. “. . . here is how to picture yourself now that you have been initiated into Jesus the Anointed: you are dead to sin’s power and influence, but you are alive to God’s rule.” Romans 6:11 VOICE. In this verse, Paul is exhorting the church at Rome to choose to see themselves as living in agreement with God’s Word, to corral old ways of thinking (2 Cor. 10:5), and mysteriously, to ‘become’ the righteousness of God through our union with [Christ]. (2 Cor. 5:21). This, y’all, is our ‘joy-filled promise and privilege.’ Looking forward to seeing you lovely, persevering, privileged ones tomorrow, 10 AM, 3 PM UK. PD
