A few months ago, I traveled to Botany Bay in Edisto, South Carolina. It’s one of the most beautiful places that I’ve been to in the state, and described as a “boneyard” beach. Due to the rapid erosion of the island, the sand and soil around the remaining trees is eroding rapidly and the roots are exposed. Old trees lie toppled and washed up onto the beach, bleached by the sun and the salt. It brings a whole new meaning to ‘driftwood”. To me, this illustrates the concept of rootedness and drifting that I will explore here. I wanted to dive into this, because for men, drifting is easy, comfortable, natural–and deadly. Rootedness is the antidote to drifting; we need more rooted men. So, how do we become and remain “rooted”?

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7 

Becoming Rooted: 7 Elements

Related → Becoming rooted starts with our relationship with God, made right. There is no piece more important than this. Encountering God, understanding our condition and need, and being embraced by his love is a transforming experience that uproots us from where we are and plants us in his presence. 

“For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault” Colossians 1:19-22

Connected → Becoming rooted continues with connection with God through prayer, time, talk, relationship, and worship. This takes intention. But the more you experience the goodness of his presence, the more you experience the value in being with him and near him. For me, this motivates and spurs my desire to seek him more. 

Obedient → Becoming rooted requires us to look at what is clear, who we are called to be, and where we should walk, carefully and obediently. This isn’t easy, common, or natural, but it is best. Spending time connecting with God in prayer and his word allows me to better understand the path he desires for my life. 

Communal → Becoming rooted requires community; it requires the support, truth, challenge, and perspective of being in community with others who love God and care about us. Roots can’t grow deep in isolation. God can use others to help us understand his ways and what looks best for our life. 

Fed → Becoming rooted requires time in God’s word, reflecting, evaluating, considering, and meditating. Growing in spiritual knowledge and understanding, we can believe that “..the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.” Colossians 1:10

Protected→ Becoming rooted requires intentional guarding of your heart and mind from becoming captured by other influences, thoughts, patterns and habits. “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.” Colossians 2:8

Nourished→ Becoming rooted happens through faith and personal spiritual development with growing doses of patience, endurance, and joy. “We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so that you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father…” Colossians 1:11-12

To summarize, becoming rooted requires a right relationship with God, a desire to seek him and his ways, intention, discipline, obedience, patience, protection and community. The fruit of inward rootedness overflows out towards others. Rootedness is established in a soil of relationship, humility, and a true desire for obedience, not a “try harder” mentality. 

Finally, consider the source of nourishment of your “roots”. What are you connecting to? 

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.” Colossians 2:6

Trying to ultimately “root” in anything other than Jesus Christ and his word is futile; at times even dangerous, errant, and deadly. I can share from my own experience– trying to connect my roots into things that disappeared was withering and crushing. But through it, I found that Jesus is the only source that will allow me to remain truly rooted, regardless of circumstances. 

The men I know that understand the true source of Jesus Christ are continually growing in faith and obedience, and overflowing with gratitude, love, and good fruit. They cling to this truth– “But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.” Colossians 2:23

Follow Jesus. Let your roots grow down into him. Let your life be built on him. Continue in the truth you have received. Then, your faith will grow strong, your roots will grow deep–and you will be filled with joy and overflow with gratitude. 

Assessing Rootedness

My hope is that these series of questions related to 7 major life areas for men allow you to more deeply examine the source(s) of rootedness in your own life. 

Am I consistently full of gratitude, or complaints? (Perspective / Mindset)

Am I living from who I truly am (In Christ), or reacting to life based on pressure, emotion, or approval? (Identity / Who am I becoming?)

Am I staying relationally connected to God, or just going through spiritual motions (or avoiding Him altogether)?  (Faith / Spiritual Life / Connection to God)

Am I intentionally guiding my thoughts, or letting them run unchecked and shape me? (Mindset / Thought life)

Am I known and challenged by other men, or slowly isolating and doing life on my own? (Brotherhood / Friendships / Men in your life)

Am I intentionally investing in my relationship, or coasting and assuming it’s ‘fine’? (Marriage / Relationships / Intimate relationships)

Am I working with purpose and alignment, or just staying busy and reacting to what’s in front of me? (Mission / Work / Purpose / What you’re building and doing)

Are my daily habits strengthening me or slowly weakening me? (Physical / Habits / Discipline / Body + daily habits)