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When it comes to leadership, we are wise to want beautiful fruit, but we must understand the roots beneath the surface that produce the fruit. The fruit can inspire us and give us a picture of what we hope our leadership will be for others, but wisdom calls us to focus on healthy roots that bring about healthy fruit and keep us from toppling.
Adapted from The Rooted Leader: Seven Rhythms of Leaders Who Bear Fruit That Lasts by Eric Geiger, releasing in August 2026 from Tyndale House Publishers.
1. Melissa Breyer,“ 15 of the Most Remarkable Trees in the United States,” Treehugger, updated January 10, 2021, https:// www. treehugger. com / most-remarkable-trees-unitedstates-4859273 #.
2. Remy Tumin,“ Thinking of Visiting the World’ s Tallest Tree? Think Again.,” New York Times, updated August 4, 2022, https:// www. nytimes. com / 2022 / 08 / 02 / us / hyperion-treeredwood-california. html #.
3. Ed Hieshetter,“ Opinion: California’ s Iconic Pioneer Cabin Sequoia Was Felled by More Than Weather,” Los Angeles Times, January 14, 2017, https:// www. latimes. com / opinion / readersreact / la-ol-le-tree-20170114-story. html.
4. Jason Daley,“ La Jolla’ s‘ Lorax’ Tree Has Fallen,” Smithsonian Magazine, June 18, 2019, https:// www. smithsonianmag. com / smart-news / la-jollas-lorax-tree-has-fallen-180972442 /.
5. Phil Gast and Joe Sutton,“ Man Pleads Guilty in Poisoning of Famous Auburn Trees,” CNN, updated March 23, 2013, https:// www. cnn. com / 2013 / 03 / 22 / justice / alabama-auburntrees-plea / index. html; and Paul Finebaum,“ The Sad Saga of Harvey Updyke,” SI, October 13, 2011, https:// www. si. com / more-sports / 2011 / 10 / 13 / harvey-updyke.
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Eric Geiger serves as the senior pastor of Mariners Church in Southern California, where he lives with his wife, Kaye, and their two daughters, Eden and Evie. Eric received his doctorate in leadership and church ministry from Southern Seminary. Eric has led in both marketplace and ministry settings, as senior vice president and chief business officer of a publishing company, a consultant on vision and strategy, and a local church pastor. 55