Rootless Corn Syndrome

I recently heard about rootless corn syndrome, a disease that is affecting the corn crops this year. Corn plants have an initial (seminal) root that anchors the young seedling and provides it with nutrients and water until the secondary nodal roots appear. The nodal roots provide the majority of water and nutrients to the plant after it sprouts. Under dry soil conditions, these nodal roots fail to develop properly. A young plant that appears to be healthy and thriving one day can be found flopped over on the next day. Adequate rainfall can help them recover and become productive plants, but they never reach their maximum potential.

I can’t help but see the parallel between floppy corn seedlings and rootless young people.

“Since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.” (Luke 8:12-14 NLT)

Some children, who seem to have great potential in their early stages, seem to wilt as teenagers. They don’t develop their own nodal roots to anchor and sustain themselves for the long run. As parents, we can only be the initial root that provides nourishment for a short period of time. The development of the secondary roots and the environmental conditions during this stage are largely out of our hands. However, we must not give up hope that they will recover and become productive, functional, human beings. I pray that God’s grace will pour down at the right pace to encourage stability and growth in these young lives.

“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-8 NLT)