I saw some newly planted trees along the boulevard of a street.  I have always wondered why trees are often planted in the fall season.  I did a little research and discovered a few answers to my question.  In this Autumn season, when leaves are falling to the ground, roots can grow without having to feed the leaves.  In the early spring these roots will continue to grow, before growth of leaves occurs, again strengthening the root system.

In all honesty, as I look at the leaves falling, and the barren trees, I am thinking about the winter coming. I am not thinking about roots that are growing. Winter can be a long cold season, colder in some places than others!  (I know having lived in Winnipeg with -40 temperatures some days.)  This morning I am reminded that before I think about the winter, which has not even arrived, I should think about that which is unseen, the roots; roots that are growing!

Seasons of ‘root growth’ have come and gone in the lives of God’s people.  We read of a significant season of shallow roots and no root growth. This occurred when God and his ways did not occupy their minds nor capture their hearts. They had words that indicated they believed, and routine actions that indicated belief, but lives that said they did not follow.  Through prophets, God told his people, “For I delight in faithfulness, not simply in sacrifice; I delightin acknowledging God, not simply in whole burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6), and,  "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught” (Isaiah 29:13). Their neglect of the living God, their God, resulted in an experience of exile. The goodness of God was in his promise that “The surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward” (2 Kings 19:30).

“The house…will again take root downward” is a beautiful image.  Even more beautiful is the truth of fruit that will come on account of the strong roots!  In Colossians 2:7 we read, “Let your roots grow down into Jesus, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Growing strong, established roots, remains God’s design for his people. Followers of Jesus can establish deep, secure roots in him - the Truth.  Fruit that will appear, on account of deep roots, is a faith that flourishes and thankfulness that abounds. The resurrected life of Jesus is about roots and fruit!

Leaves are falling outside, and winter is on its way, but let’s not forget about the roots – this is a good season for root growth. 

This contemporary song of worship speaks of seasons. Enjoy the music and the lyrics. 

Springtime by Chris Renzema

You're the resurrection
That we've waited for
You buried the night
And came with the morning
You're the king of heaven
The praise is yours
The longer the quiet
The louder the chorus

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

We will sing a new song
'Cause death is dead and gone with the winter
We will sing a new song
Let "hallelujahs" flow like a river
We're coming back to life
Reaching towards the light
Your love is like springtime

You're the living water
God, we thirst for you
The dry and the barren
Will flower and bloom
You're the sun that's shining
You restore my soul
The deeper you call us
Oh, the deeper we'll go

We will sing a new song
'Cause death is dead and gone with the winter
We will sing a new song
Let "hallelujahs" flow like a river
We're coming back to life
Reaching towards the light
Your love is like springtime

Come tend the soil
Come tend the soil of my soul
And like a garden
And like a garden I will grow
I will grow
Come tend the soil
Come tend the soil of my soul
And like a garden
And like a garden I will grow

We will sing a new song
'Cause death is dead and gone with the winter
We will sing a new song
Let "hallelujahs" flow like a river
We're coming back to life
Reaching towards the light
Your love is like springtime
Like springtime

God of growth that has eternal value, we know that your words speak often of roots.  Remind us today that this is a season for rooting ourselves, our families and our churches deeper in you.  We acknowledge the words of the Psalmist who said that rooted in you we “will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season; its leaf will not wither (Psalm 1). Thank you for this great truth today.  AMEN

With care and in prayer,