Bitter Root

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. (Hebrews 12:14-17)

The dark cloud is here. You feel it. I feel it. We all knew the New Year would inaugurate uncertainty. Welcome to 2009.

In the midst of the pressure the initial reaction of the soul is not to bend but to snap. People snap. In a moment of time whether it be for a momentary illusion of comfort, in a futile attempt to relieve panic, or the fruit of something that has been festering for years; in times like these one can make a horrible decision that may be irreparable. It becomes a bitter root.

Bitter roots are sown when:

· People malign an individual over something that is otherwise inconsequential. Tamper with someone’s convenience and it is like a lamb to the slaughter. When you are under pressure, somehow remind yourself of the fact. You are not emotionally 100%. Be careful how you talk to good people. Others may be closer to snapping than you are. Words create chasms. Words connect. Words are creative. Words are chaotic. Choose them and use them wisely.

· You feel alone. You walk alone. You treat others as if they should leave you alone. Crazy people don’t know they are going crazy. So if you feel like you have it all together right now just remember, you may be on the brink of insanity. If you are crazy enough to believe you are not going crazy just realize that people need community. In desperate times people desperately need community. Be supportive. Be supported. Chase after holy relationships.

· You do something dumb with your last dime. Money is a seed. You sow what you reap. We are reaping. The question is what will you do now with the seed in your sack? How will your current spending/earning/saving/giving practices impact your life in 2010? Don’t spend your last dime on bitter root. Esau sold out for soup.

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