ROOTS & FRUITS
Ever been to a flower show of note where the world’s best are showing off their prized azaleas, roses, orchids and the like? I just love the sweet scents that fill the air – I’m often driven to buy Mars bars and chocolate things straight after such a visit; must be a deep psychological need that I have. And have you ever been to fruit festivals where Joe Smith’s record-size apples are just too good to munch and the bunches of grapes need two strong men to carry them home?
Well, have you ever been to the Annual Plant and Tree Root Show held in the picturesque town of Habernashy in North Dakota? No, well it’s a bit of a flop as grey and brown gnarly things are just no match for the sweet scents of roses and Joe’s bright red apples. Roots just don’t cut it I’m afraid even if they are displayed in arrangements that would make that jungle chap think he’s right at home.
What’s the point here you may ask, and ask you may. The point is that most leaders are so possessed of the urge to see results and display all their shiny fruit and aromatic ‘flowers’ that they forget where the source of it all is – dem roots! (I won’t break into song here and sing, ‘ Dem Roots, Dem Roots’, I’ll keep that for my article on bones)
My horticulturist friends inform me that roots are very important for the life of plants and although hidden in the silent earth they are responsible for the life blood of plants – water and vital nutrients! They also anchor plants during the harsh times of wind and storms. Nifty things once you get thinking about them. If the roots fail, the plant fails and those fruits and scents are no more. Before you hum a morbid dirge and get all sorry for deceased plants let me get on to the good stuff
Our theme on character and servant leadership must take us to roots. Roots symbolise the hidden qualities of character, values and the inner ‘stuff’ that keeps one on track especially in times of trial and testing. I have worked with too many leaders over the past 20 years that are just too busy to develop their root systems and think that personality, skill and talent will see them through. Sadly it does not. A good test of the strength of your root system is in this adage: ‘You can tell the measure of a person by the size of the obstacle that stops them’. What last stopped you? How much force was needed to pull you up from the ground?
I have been surprised by how little is needed to unnerve me. When I examine why this happened I hit on the subject of…roots! Let me name some roots that you need to have in your root system. There are many but here’s my Top 10:
• Courage – even if it turns to water at times
• Honesty – the truth is best in the long run
• Trust and trustworthiness
• Healthy self image – I like me and I think I’m nice!
• Inner peace and quiet confidence
• Ability to forgive yourself and others quickly
• Belief in Someone greater and nicer than yourself (especially the latter)
• Ability to learn from any of life’s experiences
• Open and transparent relationships with those who will support me
• A great sense of humour which kicks in where depression fears to tread. Angels can fly because they take themselves so lightly!
When one or more of these lose their footing in your soil you will be in a weak place in your relationships and/or your business. Draw a root system on a piece of paper and name the roots that are your anchors. Also name any missing ones
Finally, good fruits come from good roots but there are definite seasons which focus on roots development in our lives. Just as there are fruit seasons where we experience times of prosperity. We often call these root times wilderness or testing periods and my bit of advice is to go through these times until you have learned the lessons. Why? ‘Cause you cannot go to Grade 3 until you pass Grade 2. If we do not ‘pass’ these seasons we tend to have to rewrite our exams. Just as much as we get natural seasons, so the seasons of life are guaranteed.
Next we’ll focus on some of the specific roots and how to develop them and what fruit come from these roots. Please e-mail me any ‘roots’ you’d like to explore and I’ll gladly prepare something for next time.
E-mail me at mpk@mweb.co.za