Roots ~ the good, the bad and the ugly

Another senseless killing. If the developers had not planted trees that would grow too large for the lots, and had the city planners not approved, my neighborhood would not be in the painful process it is in now of having to remove 30 year-old trees from our front yards. Unfortunately, their roots are ripping up driveways, tearing apart sidewalks and threatening garage concrete slab floors.

We weren't one of the first on our street to do the dastardly deed, but now two more trees have come down in the matter of a few short weeks. It really is sad to see stately, mature, shade-giving trees that took years to grow, cut down in a few short minutes at the hands of a power saw. I can't watch as it literally brings me to tears.

Two pieces of advice my mother hammered into us kids growing up ~ never let a dentist remove a tooth unless it's absolutely necessary because the replacement is just not the same as a real tooth ~ and never cut down a tree in its prime unless absolutely necessary because its stature will never be replaced in my lifetime. Wow, both have roots than anchor and give life. And both are typically removed because of root damage. My mother was definitely a wise woman. Now where's the Biblical application?

Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the Lord our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison. (Deut 29:18)