 Ancient Gum, Ridge Park, Unley, SA WASHAWAYS, EROSION, FLOODS Ancient, gnarled red gum trees line the banks of the River Murray. The roots of these trees are exposed by years of flooding; eventually, the trees topple into the river to become snags to river traffic. The trees do not succumb easily to the onslaught on their roots by flood or storm; their root system has grown deep into the earth, they are anchored by their taproot. When I was a volunteer, working in the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden nursery, I took over the job of growing seedlings. The seeds of most Eucalypts are as fine a pepper. There would spring two tiny leaves from seeds that appeared to be as pepper, and when the seedling was about an inch high, I would repot the seedlings into a bigger pot. I would be left amazed; the taproot root would be up to three times the length of the plant. The Eucalypts would grow their roots first, anchor themselves into the soil and then commence to grow their canopy., The life span of River Red Gums is hundreds of years. Ridge Park, Unley, South Australia, houses a red gum eucalypt estimated to be 300 years. The tree is immense. Ancient, gnarled red gum trees line the banks of the River Murray. The roots of these trees are exposed by years of flooding; eventually, the trees topple into the river to become snags to river traffic. The trees do not succumb easily to the onslaught on their roots by flood or storm; their root system has grown deep into the earth, they are anchored by their taproot. When I was a volunteer, working in the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden nursery, I took over the job of growing seedlings. The seeds of most Eucalypts are as fine a pepper. There would spring two tiny leaves from seeds that appeared to be as pepper, and when the seedling was about an inch high, I would repot the seedlings into a bigger pot. I would be left amazed; the taproot root would be up to three times the length of the plant. The Eucalypts would grow their roots first, anchor themselves into the soil and then commence to grow their canopy., The life span of River Red Gums is hundreds of years. Ridge Park, Unley, South Australia, houses a red gum eucalypt estimated to be 300 years. The tree is immense.  In search of sustenance DELUDED We, humans, need an anchor, a tap root to stabilize us mentally, physically, and in every other way to maintain our life like the ancient gum. We need to tap into something or someone to steady us in making decisions, choosing relationships, and our mental well-being. We can be easily deluded into thinking drugs and alcohol will stabilize us. We look at governments and relationships, and possession’s for security., Alas, these things are not the kind of soil in which to put down our taproots and stabilize our life. Where can we find the kind of permanency, security, peace, calm in life’s storm? How can we be adults who don’t get swept away like gums with exposed roots along the riverbank? How can we avoid meltdowns, tantrums, guilt, accuse everyone else but ourselves when life happens?  Todd River in flood. Alice Springs, NT MYTHS AND LIES There are many myths about Jesus which we are deluded enough to believe. Unfortunately, our only fount of knowledge concerning Jesus is the TV, films and social media. We have no idea of the truth about Jesus that is to be found in the Bible. The lie is, he condemns us, keeps us poor, allows us to be sick. There is the myth that we have to be good enough; we have to be a wowser. However, the scripture says, ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish.’ John 3: 16. The truth is Jesus Christ came to give us abundant life. Listen to this, ‘The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they (you and me) might have life and that they may have it more abundantly.’ John 10: 10. Jesus came to stabilize our life, prosper us, give us his joy and peace.  Debris and exposed roots. Life still insists on growing but not as strongly as beforehand SEARCH FOR TRUTH
When we take the time and trouble to search out the truth, we find that Jesus is the taproot that will settle us down and provide mental and physical strength. Jesus is the moral soil that does not wash away when life sends a flood. Jesus is the calm, the peace, the joy, the sanity in a mad and cruel world. How do we tap into Jesus? By believing that he is and making him our savior, by putting him first in our life, by becoming dependent on him, by seeking an intimate relationship with him and maintaining that relationship. To enjoy all that Jesus has to give, we must accept him into our hearts and make him the source of all things. When Jesus is our source, our very being, we will know peace, calm, mental well-being, physical health. When life challenges us, as it will, we will not topple into the river and become a snag for others to flounder over.
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