Strength in Shared Roots

A few summers back, our family went out to see the giant Sequoia trees of California. They are truly spectacular! Some of them grow as much as 300 feet tall and are as old as the time of Christ. We were told that, strangely, these towering trees have unusually shallow root systems that splinter out just under the surface of the ground. They stay shallow in order to absorb as much of the surface moisture as possible. You would think that would be their weakness. You would think that storms with heavy winds would bring these giants crashing to the ground. But they don’t, because the trees grow in clusters. Their roots intertwine, providing tremendous support.

Friends, family, and communities of faith all function for us in this same way, don’t they?

In his book Can You Drink the Cup?, Henri Nouwen writes, “In community, we say: Life is full of gains and losses, joys and sorrows, ups and downs—but we do not have to live it alone. We want to drink our cup together and thus celebrate the truth that the wounds of our individual lives, which seem intolerable when lived alone, become sources of healing when we live them as part of a fellowship of mutual care.”

Today, may we give thanks for the friends and family in our lives who, like the mighty Sequoias, undergird us with strength and hope.

Let us pray: God of Grace, we thank you for the people who you have brought into our lives that make the journey a little more beautiful. And today we especially pray for those who feel lonely and forgotten. May they know your presence with them. Surround them with your love and care. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen.