My blueberry bushes have some wonderfully bright red leaves, while the birch trees have bright yellow ones. It is very interesting to see how green leaves turn brown, orange, red or yellow, as their green pigmentation fades.
But researchers in Australia have been finding minute quantities of gold particles in the leaves of eucalyptus trees that are growing in regions where there are gold deposits deeply buried. This may make mining for gold much cheaper, as the trees' roots have effectively done the research for the mining engineers.
I find that very interesting. The tree roots show where its roots are located.
Following my observations yesterday about the dangerous gap between 'name and nature', today, I am thinking about roots and fruit.
When Jesus was highlighting our need to be authentic followers of his, rather than hypocrites, who just played at it, for the sake of appearances, he spoke of the fruit that we produce. “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.' (Matthew 7.15-20)
But we know that the fruit is determined by the roots, and what sort of water source that bush or tree has. If the roots of our spiritual life are deeply grown into the love of God, then we shall produce his nature in us, as St. Paul prayed. 'Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.' (Ephesians 3.17b)
Where are your roots growing, and what do you your leaves look like? Jesus, I hope!
Best wishes,
Richard
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