So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  Colossians 2:6-7 

This past Monday Pam and I took the whole family down to the Prince William Forest Park. Being country folk at heart, we’d been wanting to get down there for several years, but never found the time. Monday was a picture perfect day. The park is 19,000 acres of forested land that has been essentially untouched for hundreds of years and is a great window into what the first settlers must have encountered when they began populating the mid-atlantic states. 

We dropped by the ranger station to pay our $5 entrance fee and ate our picnic lunch. After eating we drove to one of the remote parking areas and off-loaded our bicycles. There’s a nine mile paved road that loops lazily through the rolling forest hills. Occasionally it crisscrosses hiking trails and other unpaved roads; but on this particular day was practically deserted, except for the occasional power-biker. Since it was Katelyn’s first time on a bicycle with training wheels, we didn’t get too far… but it was a delightful time, nonetheless. 

I decided to conclude our nature adventure with a hike. We spread out the park map and selected the Quantico Cascades Trail because it sounded interesting and was only a .7 mile hike, one way. It took us down to the north branch of the Quantico Creek and by some scenic rocks with rushing water (Hence the name, “Cascades Trail.”) We took about a half hour to plunge our feet into the cold fast moving water and pick our way through the rocks. Justin fell in twice and got soaked, but other than that it was fun. 

One of the first things I noticed on the hiking trail was the damage that the winter snows had caused. There were hundred of fallen trees with roots exposed littering the forest. Most of them were pine trees- cedars, Virginia pines and the like. Their large green boughs had gathered up the falling snow until the trees could simply hold no more. They toppled over like toy soldiers. The weight of the snow coupled with the notoriously shallow root systems of these trees had devastated many seemingly solid pines. 

For trees and for people, rootedness is vital. All of us who have received Christ have been rooted in Him- that is what salvation is all about. We are placed “in Christ” and our souls are secure. We’ve been planted. 

What is necessary now is to continue to “live [literally ‘walk’] in Him.” In the same way received him (by grace through faith) we now walk. It is our moment by moment walk of faith and dependence that gives us the additional “rootedness” we need. Walking with Christ day by day “builds us up” and “strengthens” us. Deep roots allows us to withstand heavy storms. 

The choices you make now are preparing you for future storms. Fostering a strong interior life and personal walk with Christ is the surest path to being firmly rooted.