Near our front door is a little alcove. Not long ago we noticed a little arborvitae seedling had started growing. We supposed that a bird had deposited the seedling. Curious, we left the little plant to grow. Months went by, then a year. The seedling developed so nicely. It turned into a nice little tree right there beside the entrance. Nice!
This spring we noticed the tree was now six feet tall and perfectly shaped. In the alcove without full sun, and sheltered from rain, the tree was somehow thriving. Amazing! By this fall we realized the top of the tree had reached the soffit extending overhead. The little ‘volunteer’ tree, now a beautiful mature tree, sadly, would have to be removed.
A friend who helps us with yard work in the spring and fall said he would love to take the tree and replant it. So … he dug around it to begin to take it out. The first thing we noticed was that the soil in that little alcove was terrible. It was full of rocks and pieces of slate. When the original builder backfilled that area, he was not too concerned about soil quality. Finally, after much digging, grunting, pulling, and even some winching, we discovered that the root of the original little seedling had gone down until it found a large piece of slate, then found a crack in the slate, and then, pushing through that crack, continued going down. Now as a mature tree, the large tap root had grown through and around the slate!
We finally got it out, but I am curious to see if the replanted tree can survive. We are rooting (no pun intended!) for it to thrive in its new location!
Our tree was made. Think of the Apostle Paul’s words to the Colossians.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:6-8 NIV
When CBC was formed in 2020, or shall we say ‘rebirthed’ from Brethren beginnings of 1708, the commitment was for the church to be rooted in Christ and His unchanging Word, the Bible. The world will always try to redirect, refocus, and relocate us to views and directions instead of the Word. Sometimes we will run into problems like slate that stymie us. Even problems that seem overwhelming. But when we stay rooted in Christ and His Word, we will be surprised at how the Lord will see us through the issues and help us overcome and thrive!
Stay rooted in Christ dear Brothers and Sisters!
Larry Dentler, CBC Executive Board
