Deep Roots

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I live on the prairie. It’s mostly flat and without trees, but we have a stand of spruce and pine on one bank of the big coulee, and on a hot summer day, a walk in the forest is a refreshing treat. I can feel the temperature fall as I make my way down the game trails, beneath the towering spruce. Sometimes, I lie down on the springy moss, and breath in the fresh cool forest air.

Today, I went for a walk in our ‘forest.’ It wasn’t warm enough to lie on the moss, but I enjoyed the fresh scent of the pine and spruce.

After dodging the snow and ice on the trail,

I found my favourite tree.

What determination it has, to send out roots in search of soil, nutrients, and precious water. On this rocky hillside, fertile soil is very hard to find. Still the tree does not give up; it continues to seek.

When I looked at these roots, I thought about my own ‘rooting process’.

Col 2:6 says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him.”

We know that trees with deep roots survive years of drought. They stand firm against strong winds, and they produce fruit.

Am I as relentless as that tree in the forest in finding the nutrients I need? Do I want to be deep-rooted? Or do my roots wither and die for lack of growing medium.

Thank you, Father, that your word says we can be ‘rooted and established in love’. Help us to put down deep roots, in You.

Bad Hair Day

When I need a big shot of caffeine, I reach for this mug. You might not guess from the picture, but it holds two large mugs of coffee (or whatever) -- and…it’s fun!

If I think I’m having a bad hair day, I just look at the mug.

Today, this picture made me think about how others see me. Do they see the bad hair – or the smile? Waaaay too often, it’s the bad hair because the smile isn’t there.

A number of years ago, I taught Life Skills and Career Planning for women in transition. Each time we covered job search techniques, one question was inevitable: “What should I wear to a job interview?”

I remember discussing the benefits of a ‘blue power suit’ but I always stressed that the best thing you can wear to an interview is a smile.

Proverbs 15:13a says, “A happy heart makes the face cheerful...”

It's true, if my heart is happy, it shows on my face. But I think it works well the other way, too.

Putting a smile on my face encourages a happy heart. I feel happy because my face says I am. And I’m pretty sure it makes for a better hair day, too!