The past two years have felt like the spin cycle of a washing machine. I have endured change upon change. Add to that a tumultuous election season and overall instability in the world, and finding my footing and staying grounded can feel, well, challenging.
Maybe you too feel tossed around by life. When circumstances feel capricious or chaotic, I’ve discovered returning to my roots can help bring peace and clarity. To me, “roots” are the structures, beliefs, values and principles that shaped me and make me who I am. Reconnecting with these parts of my core identity steady me and give me insight moving forward.
Where I came from (and why it matters)
I recently had two experiences that took me back to my roots. The first was traveling to Washington state for the celebration of my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. I feel most myself around my family. Even though we’re spread out geographically, there is something special about being with the people who have known me the longest. (And I truly love and admire my siblings, so there’s that.)
Not only were my parents, siblings and their families present at the party, but friends from many seasons of my life attended. I enjoyed conversations with old Sunday school teachers, youth group friends and childhood neighbors. They knew me as the musical theater nerd, the gangly teen showing my horse in 4-H, and the 16-year-old so nervous to take my driving test that I waited six months after my birthday before I attempted it. (I passed!)
Having conversations with those who knew that younger version of me, including pieces of my identity that I’ve long since tucked away, reminded me of how far I’ve come and the solid foundation and support system I was fortunate to launch from.
Those roots continue to shape me. Growing up in a small community with practical, kindhearted folks who loved God taught me to value simplicity and multigenerational community. My roots showed me that I can find belonging and thrive in settings with a variety of people. Interacting with those who knew me in a different season (and still love me dearly) helped me appreciate the factors God used to prepare me for future seasons of my life.
A last-minute luncheon
The second event that took me back to my roots was a serendipitous visit from Boundless author Joshua Rogers, his wife, Raquel, and their three children. I never expected that my friend and longtime Boundless associate would travel from his home in North Carolina to visit me in Bakersfield, California. But the Rogers family was passing through from Los Angeles to Sequoia National Park and had just enough time for Sunday lunch.
I first met the Rogers family in 2014 at Boundless’ Pursuit conference, where Joshua and I were presenters. Through the years, we’ve collaborated on writing projects, and our families have become close, albeit long-distance, friends. Through Zoom conversations, God has used Joshua and Raquel to encourage Kevin and me on multiple occasions, but that Sunday felt especially God-ordained.
As we talked about fun memories of writing for Boundless and how much had changed since Kevin and I brought our two-week-old daughter (!!!) to Pursuit, I was reminded of how faithful God has been through every season of my life. Connecting with old friends helps you recall the marvelous works the Lord has done in the past, and increases your trust in what He’s doing right now.
Our three-hour lunch while our kids played together was a heaven-sent dose of encouragement. We shared the rare fellowship of believers who have known each other for a long time. We talked about the transitions we were walking through and affirmed the ways we saw God at work in each other’s lives. At the end of our lunch, our friends prayed for us, and we sang a round of “God Is So Good.” I felt like the Lord had sent our longtime friends down the freeway through our town at precisely the right time.
Rooted in love
I won’t attempt to offer a formula for getting back to your roots. I will encourage you to reconnect with family members and longtime friends if you want to be reminded of God’s faithfulness and the ways He’s led you and worked in your life. In a fast-paced, changing world, there is value in remembering the past and reconnecting with the values and core beliefs that guide you.
I’m reminded of Ephesians 3:17-18 (NIV) which says,
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”
Part of being rooted and established in love is being “together with all the Lord’s holy people.” It is in community where I am known that I gain clarity about God’s master plan for my life and the unique ways in which He has created me. As I’ve returned to my roots, I have experienced God’s love and care through people who really know me and love me. God is crafting my story from beginning to end. Sometimes I just need to look back to see it.
Copyright 2024 Suzanne Hadley Gosselin. All rights reserved.
