When Roots Circle

I have been doing a lot of “sweat therapy” in my garden lately. We moved into a new home on an acreage last December. I brought with me several plants from the garden I had at our old home. Two of the plants I brought along were an Asparagus Fern, (Asparagus aethiopicus) and a Purple Heart plant, (Setcreasea pallida ‘Purple Heart’.) I purchased the Asparagus Fern several years ago when it was in a 4” pot. Today it has grown to fill a 16” pot. I dug up the Purple Heart plant from my garden last fall. I knew we were moving and I love to use Purple Heart to fill in empty space in the garden. Both of these plants needed daily watering even during the cooler springtime. My experience told me that that means one thing…it’s time to transplant.

In both cases I used a pointed end hand trowel to work around the end of the pot. I had to pull really hard to lift the plants from their pots. To say these plants were root bound would be an understatement. There was nothing but a huge mass of roots with no visible soil anywhere.
When plants are in that condition it can be a serious matter. Left to themselves the roots will continue to circle around the plant, (even after being planted in the ground or larger container.) The plant will eventually choke itself to death.

The good news is that there is a simple remedy for this problem. Take a sharp knife and slice the through the roots in three or four places. With your hand gently pull the roots downward then, plant as usual.

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,” Philippians 3:13

Over the years I have been involved in quite a few things. In my local church I have volunteered in the nursery, children’s classrooms, greeted at the front doors, and helped in various outreaches. I have been involved in activities in my community and met some amazing people. I enjoyed every minute of those things, however, I have found that as time goes on some things, even though they are good, must come to an end. In our gardens fruits and vegetables produce for a certain amount of time and then it’s time to pull them out and begin a new season.
The same is true in our own lives.

I heard a pastor say once that every year he takes a day or two, gets alone with God and asks this question, “Lord, is this still where you want me?”

I have been meditating on that thought for sometime now. I see how clarifying my purpose for this time in my life is both liberating and empowering. I’ve found myself doing some really good things, yet, realizing I may have to lay a portion of them down so that I can pursue the great thing that God is beginning to open up to me.

How about you, my friends? Has something that once was a God given assignment run it’s course? Maybe it’s time to lay down that thing that once was good so that you can pick up and run with something new that is great. It may be that there is something that grew wonderfully when it was first began. Most likely roots began to develop to penetrate deep. However, now those same roots are no longer reaching deeper. They are merely circling the same thing over and over again. The strong momentum that once made it effective has slowed to a crawl. What once was fruitful is now stagnant and gathering dust and cob webs.

Are you tired of doing the same old thing over and over and ending up nowhere? If the answer is ‘yes’ then, the ball is in your court. Many of you already know where the next chapter of your life begins. Change is never easy or comfortable. The enemy will see to it that fear knocks on your door; he will toss in a little doubt for good measure. What will be your response? Who will you agree with? The enemy shouts, “You can’t, it’s impossible, you’re too…old, too young, inexperienced..stupid. Take a moment, shut off the phone, social media and the noise flying around your mind. Hear your loving, Heavenly Father’s sweet voice say, “It’s ok, you’ve got this, because I AM with you.” He will never ask for a leap, just one small step and it’s up to you to take
it. Cut the circling roots, pull down the doubt and fear with the power of God’s Word.

“A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life],But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them.” Proverbs 16:9

There’s an old saying that, “You can not turn around a parked car.” Start the car, my friends, put into gear. Take your foot off the break…He is there, waiting to open a new highway for you. He has gone before you to direct you all along the way. There might be a bump or two, but, His hand is on your shoulder…