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.
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.
What has your garden revealed to you lately?