How Deep Are Your Roots?
Posted on February 12, 2012 by Linda Murphrey, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
You possess the inner strength to make it through ANY storm in life.
“Too many times we pray for ease, but that’s a prayer seldom met. What we need to do is pray for roots that reach deep into the eternal – so when the rains fall and the winds blow, we won’t be swept asunder.” (-Philip Gulley)
While here on this earth, I’m not sure I’ll ever understand why some people have so few “real” problems in their lives and sail through life with such ease, while others are bombarded with trials and storms year after year after year. Sure, I can speculate as to what might be the purpose for the relentless pounding of pain, and my mind can attempt to “play God” in trying to figure it out; but it’s my own human brain trying to make human sense out of this human life. And I can’t.
Ever feel like your life is one big hurricane season? Not just for three months of the year, but all year? Ever feel like you survive one storm, ahhh….catch your breath, and are then caught off guard by an entirely new, even stronger storm blowing in from a different direction? Ugh, what’s that about!? Again, you search for and speculate the reasons, but to no avail. Often the severity, frequency and resulting consequences of life’s storms are impossible to predict and out of your control. No National Hurricane Center to send warnings of what’s headed your way.
When the storm does hit, you try to stand firm while being blown about – grasping for someone, something to cling to for strength. But there is nothing and no one with the ability to save you from your storm. The ONLY thing that keeps you firmly planted is the depth of your roots. And sometimes all you can do, and perhaps the greatest thing you can do….is to just keep standing.
As your limbs are being torn….sometimes broken…..others may judge from the safety of their storm-free existence that you should have been more prepared for this Hurrican Katrina in your life, that you will surely be demolished, almost in hopeful anticipation of your demise. Some may stand ready to criticize the way you appear to be responding to the crisis. Others may doubt the existence of your roots as they see you tossed about and shaken not only in the eye of the storm, but the tornadoes following in its path. As they gaze upon the cyclones, all they can see is that you are twirling about within, losing leaves, losing limbs, and seemingly losing life. And, unfortunately, as they observe the torrential downpour of distress, others begin to lose all faith in you….in your ability to keep standing.
But none of that matters…..because you know. You know the depth of your roots. You know the strength of your roots. You know the power within your roots. You know that no matter how ugly and frightening things may appear to be in the midst of the storm, there is something beneath you and inside you that will never allow your destruction. No cyclonic circumstance can EVER rip you from your foundation. You WILL stand strong. You know.
The storm passes. Destruction in its wake. But as the clouds begin to clear and the damage assessed, sure enough…..there you are…..still standing! Roots deeper and faith stronger than ever. Those who sat in judgment and negative declarations are now humbled and amazed by the strength within your roots. Oh, sure, there are barren branches and weakened limbs; it will take time for new growth to be evident, for budding of new leaves to appear. But no one is mindful of external appearance – the glory is in the strength of stance. The world now stands in awe of what was unseen – the internal, eternal strength that sustained you through hurricane force winds. They marvel at your roots.
If you have a storm in your life right now….if your life IS a storm right now….I challenge you to dismiss the predictions of destruction. I challenge you to reject a forecast of demise. I beg you to quiet even your own negative voices. Although you are feeling fragile, you DO have what it takes to weather this storm. You DO possess the inner strength needed to hold you up and keep you on your feet. You can make it through anything with dignity and grace. And no matter the severity of turbulence, I encourage you to “be still and know.”
Don’t lose faith in your ability to survive whatever may blow through your life. You can trust the strength of your roots…..and you WILL keep standing. I know.
