Weeds...most of us love to hate them. Many of us spend a good portion of our summer extracting them from our gardens, walkways & edges - or we gleefully concoct knew measures of prevention.
A few people are on the opposite side of the fence. They consider weeds to be attractive, nutritious, valuable, and see the role weeds play in God's grand design; cheering them on. Some people even plant weeds - what?! Yes, 'tis true. They cultivate dandelions and thistles for their own personal enjoyment just as lovingly as perennials. And, hey - if the thistles that overran my flower beds were as beautiful as the photos I've seen, I might be tempted to do the same. I could create a special little bed just for them. Back near the fence line. At the very edge of the property. *smile*
Who am I kidding? I'm with the majority, you know, one who mutters silent oaths under her breath while yanking the little devils out by their stalks hoping to see the root come up with it. And, if the root doesn't come out - the grumbling increases. Now there are tools involved: hacking, digging, plunging of a blade - all with a vengeance.
A few people are on the opposite side of the fence. They consider weeds to be attractive, nutritious, valuable, and see the role weeds play in God's grand design; cheering them on. Some people even plant weeds - what?! Yes, 'tis true. They cultivate dandelions and thistles for their own personal enjoyment just as lovingly as perennials. And, hey - if the thistles that overran my flower beds were as beautiful as the photos I've seen, I might be tempted to do the same. I could create a special little bed just for them. Back near the fence line. At the very edge of the property. *smile*
Who am I kidding? I'm with the majority, you know, one who mutters silent oaths under her breath while yanking the little devils out by their stalks hoping to see the root come up with it. And, if the root doesn't come out - the grumbling increases. Now there are tools involved: hacking, digging, plunging of a blade - all with a vengeance.
This year was a rough one. Ohio experienced a drought along with near-record breaking temperatures. It was a hot, dry summer. One would think that this would give the weeds a run for their money. Although our grass died in early July and most of our annuals and perennials needed TLC throughout the season; the weeds took everything in stride. In fact, they had a hey-day! So much for planting "drought-resistant" flowers. They wimped out early and were done by the first week of August. *sigh*
So, it was as I was throwing out my shriveled & scorched flower baskets, thinning out the now-dead perennials and, yes, pulling weeds - that a very familiar parable came to light amidst my muttering & grumbling. Found in Matthew 13, Jesus tells a story about a sower casting seeds: "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
As I was working and thought of this passage, two thoughts quickly followed one another: 1) What 'weeds' do we allow to grow among us and choke out the life, the Spirit in us? For me, it is selfishness, self-sufficiency & pride - on a basic, generic level. Those are some mighty weeds capable of stealing life-giving water.
So, it was as I was throwing out my shriveled & scorched flower baskets, thinning out the now-dead perennials and, yes, pulling weeds - that a very familiar parable came to light amidst my muttering & grumbling. Found in Matthew 13, Jesus tells a story about a sower casting seeds: "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
As I was working and thought of this passage, two thoughts quickly followed one another: 1) What 'weeds' do we allow to grow among us and choke out the life, the Spirit in us? For me, it is selfishness, self-sufficiency & pride - on a basic, generic level. Those are some mighty weeds capable of stealing life-giving water.
The second thought I had was this: 2) What lesson might we possibly learn from the weeds (literally)? I am constantly amazed by how 'weeds find a way.' Seriously. Have you noticed? They grow anywhere - even in places one might think to be inhospitable to life! They are tenacious & persistent; I've yet to go out and not find a weed growing in my gardens. What do weeds teach me? Do I fight for life, for sustained growth - like the weeds? Their time on earth is short-lived and their environment, hostile. Yet, against these "insurmountable" odds they search for light and bunker down to plant roots in nourishing soil. They reach and they reach and they reach until they finally find the life-giving resources required (and they accomplish this with flair and for a purpose!). I can admire that; learn from it and be a better person for it.
What has your garden revealed to you lately?
What has your garden revealed to you lately?
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