I scan my yard. Drat! Too many weeds!
Bending, I take hold and yank. But rather than pulling out a single strand of green, the tug reveals more than I could see.
The plant didn’t break away from its roots. Instead, the intricate underground system comes up with the weed.
I pull until I reach the brick wall of our house’s foundation. Stepping on the lengthy tendril, I give another hearty tug.
The weed and roots finally break away.
Now I realize another world exists below the dirt, life fostering more life.
Just like the Christian life. So much may go unseen, yet fosters the life of ministry around the world.
A Root System to Emulate in the Christian Life
During my weeding, I stumbled upon a network of roots below the ground called the rhizomatic root system—and it flourishes underground. This system sends out more roots and shoots until plants poke up toward the sun.
Rhizome’s nodes have two jobs: to help store food and produce more vegetation.
Unlike other root systems, rhizomatic roots grow horizontally underground rather than vertically.
All the work going on behind the scenes—or under the soil—births new life and shoots up to make its debut on life’s stage. The main plant, or mother plant, produces these smaller plants above ground.
The rhizomatic root system teaches us that with a strong underground source, like faith in God, community and connectivity can be powerful forces in this world.
God created us for community.
The Lord created man (Gn 1:27). Then, seeing nothing similar to Adam among creation (Gn 2:20), He created another human, Eve (Gn 2:18).
God demonstrated His design for community by fellowshipping with Adam and Eve in the garden (Gn 3:8). Sadly, sin damaged that perfect relationship, and Adam and Eve were banished from Eden.
But by God’s mercy and grace, He made a way for them—for all who’d come after them—to be restored through Jesus.
Connection: Sprout Where God Plants You
We live in this beat-down, battered world, longing for the restoration of all things.
While we believe the day will arrive when we’ll see our Savior face-to-face, God gave us a job while we wait to be united with Christ.
But this job requires connectivity.
Each of us, whether introvert or extrovert by God’s design, is created for community and can best serve Him through connectivity.
Much like the fellowship we’re offered with the Creator of the universe, time spent with Him equips and enables us to do all He’s uniquely made us to do in life.
As the Apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”
Consider the rhizome’s roots.
They run horizontally underground. One can’t see all that’s happening, but life is transpiring in this place—a vital component to the eventual “springing up.”
We’re to spring up wherever God puts us and make this world more beautiful—and not only with physical beauty, but with our ministries.
We use the gifts God gives us—spiritual and otherwise—to do what we’re each called to do.
Matthew 28:19-20 proclaims, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.”
Friends, we can’t fulfill the Great Commission if we don’t start each day with God.
Just like the rhizome’s primary duty is to store up food so it can produce more plants, so it is with our faith.
In our time with the Lord, we’re nourished by the Word and intimate conversation with the Almighty. We store up spiritual food. We can talk with and hear from Him.
When we make a habit of rooting ourselves in the Lord, we can receive all we need to blossom in our unique ministries and bear fruit for His kingdom.
Daily time with the Lord helps us flourish where God plants us in a world hungry for truth.
Connecting with Other Christians Bears Fruit
As we’re nourished and grow in our connection with God—our personal relationship with Jesus—we’re better prepared for service.
We’re able to nourish others from the nourishment we’ve received and can offer new life in Christ.
Imagine the connectivity taking place in our lives without us even thinking about it.
With almost instant responses through text messaging, emails, and social media, the world is full of opportunities for relationships, including connection with people we may never meet in person.
New life comes through salvation, then matures through discipleship and mentoring, much like a mother plant serves as a springboard for the growth of others.
Think of all that’s happening underground as the network of Christian community. Most of us aren’t yet working “underground” like many in the persecuted church are, but we can pray for our brothers and sisters around the globe.
Our connections with others who—like us—love Jesus strengthen us for the work we need to do in this world. Unlike the rhizome in my yard, God’s good garden doesn’t have any weeds!
The possibilities for ministry are endless.
Are you a writer, a teacher, a pastor, or speaker? The connections you have—with God first, then with fellow believers—can blossom into good words this world needs to hear.
Are you an attorney, waitress, or stay-at-home mom? You, too, have a message—a ministry—to share. Your connectivity to God and other Christians matters for the work He’s calling you to accomplish in this world.
Whoever you are, whatever your giftings, with God’s enabling power—and by His grace—let’s be rhizomatic warriors in this world, changing it for God’s glory and the good of others.
Maureen Miller
Maureen Miller is a writer and storyteller. She contributes to Guideposts’ All God’s Creatures, her local newspaper, and several online devotion sites. Married for 35 years to her childhood sweetheart Bill, she lives on Selah Farm nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina. Her debut novel Gideon’s Book is now available, and she blogs at maureenmillerauthor.com.
