Weeds

Despite having tilled my garden space and put down weed barrier cloth, there are still weeds in my garden. Ugh, I wish there weren’t.

Weeds can sap water and nutrients away from my vegetable plants. Weeds can entangle my young plants and pull them to the ground.

Weeds are unavoidable. The garden is in the yard, so, of course, the yard creeps into the garden space. Weeding is without a doubt my least favorite part of gardening, but I need to do it, because the weeds will hinder my plant’s growth.

Jesus compared the cares and pleasures of life to weeds.

As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. Luke 8:14.

I live in the world, so, of course, the cares and pleasures of the world creep into my relationship with God. I need to weed them out before they sap my resources, hinder my growth, choke out the Spirit, and pull me to the ground.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely. Hebrews 12:1.

The cares and pleasures of the world are not bad things, as weeds are not bad things. In fact, by definition, weeds are just plants growing where you don’t want them to grow. Dandelions provide many benefits for the soil and for humans, but I don’t want them in my garden.

The best advice is to weed daily. Every time I go out to the garden, I look for weeds and pull a few. Normally, these are the weeds that are encroaching on the plants, or are big and visible. I try to pull these before they become too well established and cause problems. Ideally, this would keep my garden weed-free, but it doesn’t. To really rid my garden of weeds, I have to set aside more time than my morning walk- though allows. To really examine those things that are hindering my spiritual growth and weed them out of my life may take more time than my morning devotional time allows. I may need to set aside a time for just this purpose and ask God to show me the weeds.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24.

Perhaps I don’t like to weed because I rather like weeds. I love to see an abandoned field covered in wildflowers. I love the dainty white and purple and yellow blossoms throughout my yard before the movers cut them down. That dandelion pushing through the concrete inspires me. God has brought beauty to the world in the most unlikely places; what an amazing gift! Just so, God has given us earthly pleasures like good food and wine and fellowship. They all have their place. Weeding our spiritual garden does not mean we are to become puritanical in our elimination of earthly joys, but we are to keep them in their proper place, keep them from becoming our focus.

Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31-32.

And you know what? There is beauty in a weed-free garden. With help, I cleared my tomatoes, peppers and carrots of weeds and added mulch to help prevent further growth. My cucumbers, pictured above, are next. I know the weeds will creep back, mandating my continued vigilance, but there is a weightlessness, a sense of relief, an optimism that forces a smile upon my face as I look at my weed free garden space. Joy – a fruit of the Spirit.

Betsy