“I’m worried about our trees,” Lynne muttered as she looked out the back window. We had spent (in my fiscally conservative brain) an excessive amount of money to purchase Eggleston Holly trees for the backyard. Like most new subdivisions in Texas, the builder put a couple of Live Oak trees in the front yard, but only sod in the backyard. To Lynne it was a blank canvas to work on, and she did an incredible job.

Texas has had a prolonged drought and watering restrictions have been imposed. Watering one day a week was not helpful, either. I decided I needed to educate myself, which is how I learned about taproots.

The following blog was extremely helpful:

“The first root to grow of the primary roots is called the taproot, and it emerges as a radicle from a germinated seed. The taproot continues to grow as the tree matures. Not all trees grow deep taproots, especially if adequate nutrients are to be found close to the surface. Some trees have evolved the ability to grow very deep and robust taproots to find a deeper water table and withstand drought conditions. The most deep-seated taproot ever recorded was found on a wild fig tree in Echo Caves, near Ohrigstad, Transvaal, South Africa. It measured almost 400 feet deep.” (Rootwell Products Inc. blog, March 29, 2021)

I’m fairly sure that my trees’ taproots don’t go quite that deep, but the water table in this area is fairly close to the surface, so I’m optimistic. Lynne is an optimistic person as well, but, in this situation, she’s taking the “glass half empty” perspective.

It did get me thinking about my own root system. Our men’s retreat this year had as its theme “Rooted and Established” and, being a slow learner, the message is finally starting to sink in. The Psalmist describes the person whose roots go deep.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:1-3, ESV)

Notice that he is like a tree planted by a stream, not actually planted there. His taproot is his delight in the Word of God, and it goes deep. Jeremiah used a similar illustration.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

The taproot goes deep, which then allows the root system to spread out and provide nourishment to the tree. The Apostle Paul tells us where our taproot should be: “rooted and built up in him [Christ] and established in the faith, just as you were taught” (Colossians 2:7).

We will all experience spiritual drought in our lives. The way that we endure is to let our taproot go deep in our intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. When we do that, we will never cease to bear fruit for God.

What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fidelis!