Roots And Wings: A Message To All Young Dreamers

‘Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?  It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”’ 

—Luke 13:18-19

The small tree in my front yard stands bare against the gray sky, swaying slightly in the cold wind, thin branches tangled and brittle from the dry winter. Its trunk is slender, so small that I can wrap my hand around it. Every day it looks to the large maples across the road. Every day it longs for spring. 

If trees had dreams, I know what the little tree in my front yard would dream. It would dream that it could grow, and grow quickly; it would no longer be scrawny, but tall, tall and glorious, with the golden sun streaming through its dense green leaves. It would dream that it would flower, and that in the autumn, it would bear fruit. It would dream that it had wings, that it would reach to the sky, and the birds of heaven would nest among its branches. 

And like that tree, we all have dreams. We all have wishes and hopes—longings for our life in the future: perhaps a family; financial stability; a soaring career; a large house; a chance to travel the world; a destiny. Many of us may want to make an impact, a good and worthwhile impact on the world, all for the glory of God. 

Hopes and dreams, achievements and passions, these are what I call our wings. Yet anyone who is sensible enough will know that we cannot get wings if our roots are ignored. 

Roots are our foundation: knowledge, values, experience, and faith. We develop them through time and hard work, faith and diligence. These are things like building strong habits, studying scripture, and investing in our health. Other people cannot see them directly, but they are there; our roots are deep within us. In order to grow and deepen our understanding, we truly need them. They push us higher and lead us toward our wings.

Which is the more important—wings or roots? That’s a hard question that I’ve asked often to myself. However, after many years of debating and exploring both, I have come to realize that the best is a good balance between the two. 

Wings are needed because they need us going and hoping; they keep reminding us of what is higher than ourselves. Without them, the world would be dull and far less beautiful, and our lives would lose its flavor. Roots are important because they keep us grounded. They keep us sturdy and strong in this challenging world, when the winds of hardship and the storms of life strive to break us.

The most important thing, I think, is that both our roots and wings are founded in God. All trees have roots, but if its roots are established in bad ground, then it cannot grow well. Likewise, if a tree is growing quickly, but sideways, and not upward toward the sky as it should be, then sooner or later it will fall. It's vital that both our dreams and our foundations are built on Truth.

It takes faith and hope. Growth takes time, but I think there is something wonderful in that, in the journey and not merely the destination. If we invest time into deepening our roots and rejoicing in the hope of our wings, then we will grow, and when we are ready, the birds will nest in our branches, and God will bless us and the fruit that we bear.