Deep Rooted

The past couple of days I have spent a little time in the greenhouse emptying out my pots I used for my research this past Spring. I was growing 'A4' Creeping Bentgrass in the pots, a common species on high end golf course putting greens. The pots needed to be used for another experiment, but not the grass, so it ended up in the trash. The soil was still good, so I had to shake off the sand from the roots. As I pulled out each plug I was reminded of the extensiveness of the root system when compared with what you see above ground.

The turf itself may be an inch tall, but the roots extend all 12 inches to the bottom of the pot. Developing this deep root system allows the turf to utilize water and nutrients from all depths of the soil. If a time of drought comes, the plant is able to survive by having those deep roots. I have heard this numerous times in the classroom, but it always puts a greater emphasis on it when you actually see it.

This feature of turf reminds me of what should be our faith nature. We need a strong root system so in times of trouble we are anchored securely and have plenty of nutrients to get us through tough times.

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." - Jeremiah 17:7-8

One of the things I greatly enjoy about working with turf, plants, creation, is getting to see the beauty of God's handiwork. The fact you can put a tiny seed into soil, add water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, light and the right temperature, and it will soon turn into a much larger plant. Its a beautiful and amazing thing. Its easy to break it down into formulas, components and processes involved and think you have a handle on things. Yet we can't recreate these things. I often see two reactions to creation that are understandable, but only the beginning of the real truth.

• People see creation and want to worship the creation itself, not the creator of creation.
• People see the science of creation and want to worship the science, not the creator of science.

 When you worship these things you are only seeing the a small aspect of a much grander picture. Creation and science both point to the Lord. Whether it be artists, musicians, athletes, architects, etc. we praise the talents of people. None of these things we praise we assume happened on their own, there was a creator behind what we're praising. Why is nature the exception? Rather than worshiping the creation itself, it should point us to the ultimate creator. Science attempts to explain all the aspects of creation.  What is the ultimate goal here? If we got to the point of being able to explain everything that happens what then? If each experiment is in hopes of getting through another window of science, what happens when you run out of windows? The order of nature and the fact we can study it, points to a design, not a random chance of events.

I think man wants to be able to create. The sin of Adam and Eve, wanting to be equal with God, is still rampant today. If you become 'one with nature' or 'understand nature' then you can consider yourself equal with it. Just like our ancestors, that is our nature today, whether realized or not.

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." - Romans 1:20