THE ROOT

Please comment on the question at the end. Has there ever been a root in your life?

THE ROOT

I live unseen, yet break the strongest stone.

I drink the heart dry, though I bear no mouth.

I warp the garden till beauty is gone,

And bind the soul in chains of drought.

Confusing rules of thought

I vanish only when torn from beneath,

Only uprooted by hands not mortal,

Otherwise ner freed.

Who am I?

¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥

There was once a kingdom surrounded by walls of stone, tall and strong. Meant to keep things of harm away. Within those walls lived a man who tended a plentiful garden. He was given seeds of every kind to plant- and so he did- wheat for bread, herbs for healing, flowers for beauty. His task was simple: to sow what was good, to pull up what was harmful, and to guard his soil with care. Life was good.

One day, while walking in the twilight, he found a small, twisted seed lying on the path. It was unique and dark as midnight and yet it gleamed with an alluring shine. The man thought, “I wonder what sort of beauty will come from something so mysterious. Surely it is nothing if I plant just one. What harm can come of it. It is so minuscule.” He mused. And so, hidden in the corner, he buried it.

Days passed, then weeks. His garden continued to produce as always as the seed grew silently. Its roots slithered deep and across the garden, unseen beneath the soil, quietly sapping much of the nourishment from the gardens sweet soil. Out poked a beautiful shimmering silver toned vine and leaves that seemed to give him strength as he tended it. It was gorgeous to behold and every day he would marvel at its beauty, almost mesmerized. Plants shot up all over the garden and its branches began to choke all of the good plants. Soon the wheat bent under its weight, the herbs withered, and the flowers no longer lifted their heads to the sun. The man saw this too late and tried to pull the vine, but every tug tore his hands and left pieces of the root clinging to the earth.

Fear then grew in his heart, for he realized the vine was not just in the garden—it had crept into the very stones of the wall. Its roots cracked the foundation, and its shadows spread into his house. He was losing his prize garden and his house because of his foolishness and he felt horrible and helpless. How could he have allowed this? With a weary heart and troubled mind, sleep became fitful because his spirit was so heavy.

That night in his slumber, a voice came to him:

“Why do you hold onto what poisons you? Every plant not planted by My hand will be pulled up by the roots. If you remain bound to this vine, it will bind you forever. But if you let it go, you will know freedom.”

The man wept, for he had clung to the vine, thinking it gave him strength, when in truth it drained him. At last, he fell to his knees and cried out, “Deliver me!”

At once the voice answered, and a great light filled the garden. A hand reached down, touching the ground where the vine grew. With one mighty pull, the root was torn out—every tendril, every hidden piece. The man felt the weight lift, as if chains had been broken from his soul.

And the voice said:

“He whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Guard your garden. Sow peace. Don’t believe the deceivers message. Twisted seeds grow a twisted vine, leading to death. Rather choose life. For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks, and from its soil springs either life or death.”

From that day forward, the man planted only what was good. He guarded his heart and his walls stood firm, his sleep was sweet, and his garden once again sang with life.

Do you know what the twisted seed and root was?

Comment to tell your answer.- Don

Look what you’ve done: