I used to think that in order to feel uprooted I had to in fact physically leave one place and move to another. I am learning, however, I can be uprooted and completely turned on my head without moving at all.
I recently read about the transplanting of plants. I know this is quite random but bare with me. Plants are often re-potted multiple times and yet transplanting them does not hurt them. In fact, it is actually good for the ones that survive because it makes their roots stronger. As a result of transplanting the plants’ roots grow deeper.
Often I have felt like those plants- uprooted and turned upside down. Sometimes I have endured the changes willingly, and other times I have been more reluctant. Almost all of the times the changes occurred simultaneous to some major move in my life. So imagine my surprise when I have found myself feeling completely uprooted without going anywhere. For the first time in my life when I have felt like I was settled in one place and stabilized I find myself being uprooted in a way yet again. The uprooting has come in the form of challenges at work. As I face these challenges I can see that they are just the beginning of something a lot bigger. Even though I have not moved those around me are shifting and change is happening despite my constant state of being. I also see how I am being called to change- to be more patient as well as more thorough (thoroughness usually requires great patience, or so I’m told).
2 Corinthians 6:4-9 (The Message) 4Our work as God's servants gets validated--or not--in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; 5 when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; 6 with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; 7 when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right; 8 when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; 9 ignored by the world, but recognized by God;
This verse struck such a deep cord in me as I read it. I began to see how I have sought security and validation in my work. Yet in my hurry to get as many things done as I could, I have often missed important details. I have also focused so much on myself and my ‘performance’ at work I have at times lost site of those watching me and checking to see if I will stay my post- if I will practice what I preach. At times I have felt falsely accused and when these times have come it has been easy to want to throw myself a pity party and simply turn away from the challenge at hand. Yet, at other times I was simply lazy. I am seeing more and more that when challenges come they are but an opportunity for my roots to grow stronger and more rooted in my faith in God instead of myself. Instead of pushing the challenge away out of fear I am called to work harder with a pure heart, clear head and steady hand. Instead of rebelling out of weakness and feeling a loss of control, I am learning to conquer that which I once ran from and gain courage from gentleness. A lot of work lies ahead and I cringe at even the thought of it but I am learning to accept that true holiness and honest love will always require some hard work.