Today’s phrase is ‘The root of the matter’. - The essential part or cause of something, as in ‘We still don't understand what happened; we must get to the root of the matter. This expression was first recorded in the Bible (Job 19:28). Why persecute we him?’—seeing the root of the matter is found in me.
Finding the source of life’s difficulties is a bit like psychological or spiritual archaeology, trying to discover the root cause of why we act or react to the way we do. How often, in a heated family ‘discussion’ do we hear he retort, “You’re just like your father!”
A couple used to live in a very nice house which had some plants near the driveway. One of those plants in particular they named as a “volunteer elm”, one that had planed itself and the couple absolutely hated it. Sure enough, they saw that thing getting bigger—but they didn’t want that to happen. It was out of place!
Somehow, they obtained a can of some kind of “pruning paint”. The idea was that if you cut off an “offending” branch, you could spray that paint at the location and that would stop the branch from growing back.
The next spring, the tree was still there, and the black paint used was still preventing the tree from growing back from where I had cut it off. But they had not eradicated tree! Instead, like a capital letter “J”, the stem started growing up from the root in a slightly different direction. It was still very much alive.
The problem that the couple I hadn’t dealt with the roots.
So for good or ill, as long as the root is strong, generally speaking, the tree will continue to grow.
Hebrews 12:15says, “ See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God; and see to it that no bitter root springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.”.
Lord, help me to cultivate my roots in you. Gift my foundation with wisdom and my fruit with abundance. Guide me so that I bend, not fall, when the winds of life blow — for many are the benefits of life with you! Amen
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