#AtoZChallenge - 4-21-2017 - Letter R
R for Roots
It starts out as a radicle, anchoring the baby seed. Slowly
but surely, it finds its way into the ground. It senses gravity and is bound to
growing downwards, in search of water and nutrients for the seedling. They call
it geotropism, or gravitropism.
As the plant grows, the root does too, or perhaps it is the
other way around. It puts out more roots, or finer ones, almost hair-like,
spreading over the area to pick up the minutest bits of minerals that the plant
can make use of. Its job is to stay
below ground (in most cases!) and provide a strong foundation for the plant. It
has to protect the plant against high winds and torrential rains.
We start out as radicals, asking, “Why?” and “Why not?” We
find our way in the world, putting out feelers. Sensing what is good for us, or
sometimes, finding out the hard way. Our
responsibilities grow, and we find our value system. These make us rooted. Then
we can weather storms with equanimity.
Roots may or may not tell us where we come from, but they
definitely point towards how we stand in this world.
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