Staying Rooted When the Winds are Blowing
By Steve Gahagen
A few months ago, my wife, Jane, and I spent back to back weeks visiting our adult children - one in Miami and one in Colorado. In both places, we encountered storms.
In Colorado, there was a winter storm in the mountains with gusts of up to 90 mph winds. We almost got snowed in and faced a dangerous drive out of the mountains. In Miami, we narrowly missed the full impact of a hurricane but once again saw the impact of high winds.
As the 90 mph winds rocked our Airbnb in Colorado and bent the tall pine trees to their limits, I was amazed they could stand. Not all of them survived. There was one that fell and blocked the road we would need to return to the city the following morning. It made me think about the miraculous way trees can endure storms.
What can help us endure the high winds of life and come out the other side stronger and more alive? We know that depression and hopelessness are a national crisis, especially among young people. What root systems can help us stand in the midst of high winds?
There are a number of potential answers. One would think that the giant redwoods of California have deep root systems that go hundreds of feet underground. But that’s not true. They have shallow root systems that extend over one hundred feet from the base, intertwining with the roots of other redwoods. This increases their stability during strong winds and floods. The redwoods highlight the importance of relationships. This is why we at Play to Your Strengths believe it is so important to establish life-giving communities for young people through Strengths Mentoring Clubs.
Another way we can build resilience to stand against high winds is developing confidence in who we are and what we have to offer. Storms often bring waves of doubt about our value and significance. Knowing our talents and using them to make a positive difference in the world can help us hold on.
And, certainly, faith can be an important element, knowing and being confident that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves.
Questions to Consider:
Think of a time when you experienced high winds in your life. How did you withstand the storm? What kept you rooted?
How can knowing who we are make a difference when facing the storms of life?
What life-giving relationships are important to you and would help you when facing high winds? Are there relationships you need to pursue to make you stronger?