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Where Do Your Roots Go?

(Photo cred: Felix Mittermeier via PEXELS.com)

(Originally written for The Baldwin Bulletin: Pastor's Column June 18, 2019)

 Hello! I’m Pastor Dan De Graff, the new pastor at Baldwin Christian Reformed Church. My wife, Christie, and I just moved to Baldwin from Corsica, SD, with our daughter, Addison, and son, Brooks. I grew up in South Holland, IL and the DeMotte, IN area. I did my undergraduate studies at Dordt University in Sioux Center, IA, and completed my MDiv. studies at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI. I’ve also spent short lengths of time along the I-75 corridor in KY and TN, in southern Ontario, and Pella, IA. I enjoy fishing—open water and ice, spending time outdoors with my family, and watching sports (especially the Chicago Blackhawks and White Sox—I can hear your boos already Wild and Twins’ fans.) I consider myself a Packers’ fan!

 I’ve moved around a lot and haven’t settled into any single place for a long time. I have family members and friends from high school, college, seminary, ministry, and life all over the country. I like visiting where I’ve been, and each place holds a little bit of “home.” I know I’m not alone in this. Especially for many people my age and younger, who have grown up with access to speedy and affordable transportation and technology. Being connected beyond “home” and moving around for school, work, and pleasure is normal. 

 As believers, our lives need “roots.” We find roots talked about several places throughout Scripture, but let’s look at two. 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). “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8).          

 The roots of our lives can go to places. They can be in a specific town and community of faith that’s formative and nurturing. Ultimately, what we draw life, joy, purpose, and meaning from, though, must be Jesus. Are we able to say that because we are in him—the one who loves us so much that he died for our sins—we do not fear the troubles of this life, that we are not swayed by the heat of ridicule or pressures to shift our beliefs in the one true God? Jesus does possess everything we need for salvation and freedom, and he nourishes all who turn to him in faith.

 I’m hoping Baldwin is a place where my family and I can set down roots and stay for a bit longer. However long I’m here for, though, I pray that my rootedness will remain in the Savior.

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