Did you know that the bitterroot is the state flower of Montana? It flowers beautifully and was once part of the diet of northern plains Indians. The Shoshone even thought that eating it gave one mystical powers. I have never eaten bitterroot and as such cannot tell you how it tastes or what powers it endows.
The writer of Hebrews speaks of a different kind of “bitter root” and compares certain negative influences to roots that feed plants which are either poisonous or bitter (12:15). He warns about how such bad influence could spread to and harm others. It appears that the writer of this epistle is drawing on Moses’ warning about the harmful influence of the pagan nations upon Israel in Deuteronomy 29:18-19, where we read, “so that there will not be among you a man or woman, or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of those nations; that there will not be among you a root bearing poisonous fruit and wormwood. It shall be when he hears the words of this curse, that he will boast, saying, ‘I have peace though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart in order to destroy the watered land with the dry.'” God says He would not extend forgiveness to those who did such things (Deut. 29:20ff).
Every member of the Lord’s church is one who either helps bring people closer to the Lord or influences them away from Him. Even the uninvolved and inactive do, since their lack of commitment and proper priorities can be a negative pull. Are we feeding off of any bitter roots? Oh, and what sort of roots are we? The good news is that, unlike in the world of etymology, we can change our “properties” and become a source of spiritual nutrition, palatability, and health even if we have heretofore been serving as a “bitter root.”
–Neal Pollard
State flowers: find your state flower in the “list of state flowers” below!
1. Alabama, Camellia (Camellia)
2. Alaska, Forget Me Not (Myosotis alpestris)
3. Arizona, Saguaro Cactus blossom (Carnegiea gigantea)
4. Arkansas, Apple blossom (Pyrus coronaria)
5. California, California Poppy (Eschscholtzia californica)
6. Colorado, Rocky Mountain Columbine (Aquilegia caerules)
7. Connecticut, Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
8. Delaware, Peach blossom (Prunus persica)
9. Florida, Orange blossom (Citrus sinensis)
10. Georgia, Cherokee Rose (Rosa laevigata)
11. Hawaii, Pua Aloalo (Hibiscus brackenridgei)
12. Idaho, Mock Orange (Philadelphus lewisii)
13. Illinois, Purple Violet (Viola)
14. Indiana, Peony (Paeonia)
15. Iowa, Wild Prairie Rose (Rosa pratincola)
16. Kansas, Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
17. Kentucky, Goldenrod (Solidago altissima)
18. Louisiana, Magnolia (Magnolia)
19. Maine, White pine cone and tassel (Pinus strobus, linnaeus)
20. Maryland, Black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
21. Massachusetts, Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea regens
22. Michigan, Apple blossom (Pyrus coronaria)
23. Minnesota, Pink and white lady’s slipper (Cypripedium reginae)
24. Mississippi, Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
25. Missouri, Hawthorn (Crataegus)
26. Montana, Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva)
27. Nebraska, Goldenrod (Soldiago gigantea)
28. Nevada, Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)
29. New Hampshire, Purple lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
30. New Jersey, Violet (Viola sororia)
31. New Mexico, Yucca flower (Yucca glauca)
32. New York, Rose (Rosa)
33. North Carolina, American Dogwood (Cornus florida)
34. North Dakota, Wild Prairie Rose (Rosa arkansana)
35. Ohio, Scarlet Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus)
36. Oklahoma, Mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum)
37. Oregon, Oregon Grape (Berberis aquifolium)
38. Pennsylvania, Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latiflolia)
39. Rhode Island, Violet (Viola)
40. South Carolina, Yellow Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)
41. South Dakota, Pasque Flower (Ppulsatilla hirsutissima)
42. Tennessee, Iris (Iridaceae)
43. Texas, Bluebonnet (Lupinus)
44. Utah, Sego lily (Sego Calochortus gunnisonii)
45. Vermont, Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
46. Virginia, American Dogwood (Cornus florida)
47. Washington, Coast Rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum)
48. West Virginia, Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)
49. Wisconsin, Wood Violet (Viola papilionacea)
50. Wyoming, Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja linariaefolia)