A Parallel Between A Root Bridge and Spiritual Grounding
Let’s talk about roots.
We think of roots in the most common sense as anchoring plants, absorbing moisture, and providing stability.
Last week we took a boat tour of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore along the coast of Lake Superior. The sandstone cliffs were amazing and beautiful to witness, masterpieces painted with minerals staining the faces of the cliffs. I imagined landscapes and images on the surfaces and wondered if time and seasons changed Mother Nature’s artwork.
Along the coast, the tour guide shared historical, geological, and ecological facts. Specifically, he pointed out a particular tree and rock formation that captured my attention. A notable 250-year-old white pine stood alone on the Chapel Rock formation. How often have you marveled on a hike or while canoeing a river to see a tree growing out of a rock? Such an incredible sight to ponder upon.
I have read that a seed that falls into a crack in a rock can germinate in debris that accumulates over time. So it is very probable this particular tree began its life on Chapel Rock this same way.
According to the National Park Service, this tree’s root, unlike some trees that grow out of rocks, found a way to reach water and nutrients across a sandstone archway to the mainland. Over time, thick roots developed and stretched across, providing strength and stability. After the archway collapsed in the 1940’s, the thickened roots remained, creating a twisted bridge for nourishment to pass from the mainland to the tree.
I have thought more about this tree for a week than about the beauty of the Painted Rocks, its geological mysteries, or the ecological importance of roots growing on rock formations. The symbolism of this particular tree's roots is a marv the white pine’s roots stretched over the archway and continued to grow and strengthen, so when the archway collapsed, the roots were already stabilized and anchored to the mainland. This braided-root bridge continues to anchor the tree and provide it with nutrients as it stands alone on a rock overlooking the vast waters of Lake Superior.
What is the first word that may come to your mind? Resilience. Anchored. Adaption. Connection.
My perspective of nature's adaptation symbolizes personal growth, emotionally and spiritually. The white pine’s roots had to stretch to survive and withstand life's changes. Circumstances shift; relationships end, and good health fails us; we find ourselves in a place we no longer recognize. Resilience transforms us as we stay connected to faith and hope greater than ourselves and beyond our understanding. Our “roots” in faith provide the anchor we need on our life journey when our sense of security collapses beneath us.
Discovering unexpected gifts in nature and history gives me a renewed perspective on resilience and quiet courage. Our personal growth is not about changing what happens, but about staying grounded as we cope. Like the roots of this white pine standing alone on top of Chapel Rock, we too become nurtured; we grow, we stretch, we adapt, and we understand that our faith keeps us standing.
What does being rooted in faith look like when your “rock archway” collapses? Please feel free to leave your comments below.
