Roots and Shoots

It amazes me to see the roots at the bottoms of these little plastic containers. Within a day or so, as soon as the soaked seeds have been placed on the moist soil the seeds start to send down roots and before long there is a complex network that runs underneath all the plants as they grow. As the plants continue to grow, so does the root system, drawing nourishment from the soil and also helping to hold up the plants above. The roots are hidden but essential. They are white from not recieving light but that does not stop them from spreading and thriving.

I love metaphors and the roots and shoots metaphor this morning seems like we could learn something from it. Look at how we as humans put down roots when we find ourselves in fertile, friendly soil. We connect with one another deeply and find that the system of our rootedness supports and nourishes our continued growth. Not only that, we gather experiences and connections to help feed those roots, like a plant gathering sunlight to send down and further strengthen the entire plant, for without the roots, a plant cannot thrive and so it is with humans. We are learning....