Deep-Rooted Integrity

Photo: Frank Liske Park

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Long before the branch

reaches toward the light,

something unseen

has already chosen

where it will grow.

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Roots stretch quietly

through darkened soil,

searching for what will feed them.

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So does the mind.

Whatever it returns to

day after day

becomes the waterline

of the heart.

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A thought can deepen

like roots beneath a garden

hidden at first,

then slowly taking hold

of everything above it.

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And integrity,

true integrity,

does not bloom from appearance.

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It rises from what was planted

in secret.

From a life that learned

to draw near to God

before reaching outward

into the noise of the world.

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The storms still come

and the winds still press hard.

But roots grounded in truth

do not fear the season.

They hold.

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And in time,

what was formed underground

begins to speak

through every branch.

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Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how integrity is not something we simply display outwardly; it is something formed deep within us first. What we continually focus on eventually takes root in the heart, shaping what we trust and obey. In a world filled with distractions, noise, and the constant whispers of the inner critic, I want my life to remain deeply rooted in God’s truth and with God-like integrity rather than the shifting opinions of the world. This poem reflects that quiet, ongoing journey.

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What has been taking root in your mind lately, and is it drawing your heart closer to God or farther from His peace?

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If you’ve been feeling stuck in cycles of fear, overthinking, self-doubt, or the inner critic spiral, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Sometimes clarity begins with simply slowing down long enough to uncover what’s been taking root beneath the surface. If you feel led, I’d be honored to connect with you through a complimentary Clarity Call:

🔗 Schedule your clarity call today

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