Weeds

 

Like most gardeners, I wage an ongoing battle against weeds. As I reflect on my experiences over the years, I recall a few seasons when I think the weeds won. But I've learned techniques to help in the battle and now I usually prevail.

Weeds are plants; any plant is kind of a miracle as it grows and develops. But a weed is a plant, any plant, that is growing in a place where you don't want it. A flower could be a weed; a tomato plant could be a weed. When you define your garden space, you pick what you want to grow and anything else doesn't belong.

I noticed today that there are invaders in one of my garden boxes - hiding inconspicuously next to the peas. They need to be plucked out and discarded immediately! They don't belong! They have no business being in my garden.

You see, I spend a lot of time and effort on my dirt. I keep it rock-free and loose; I add organic material and nutrients. Last year my son even purchased and added a few hundred extra worms to help with the soil. In return for those efforts, the soil rewards me each year with a bounty of tasty and nutritious vegetables. So when I see a weed, I just think of all those precious minerals I've helped add to the soil, being leeched out by a plant I have no interest in. It makes me crazy! I have been known to rant and yell: "HEY you weeds! Leave my dirt alone! You're stealing my minerals and nutrients! Get your rotten little roots and stems out of here!"

Sometimes I notice things like weeds in my life. They can be leeching out things I've been nurturing and cultivating. The leeching can occur by wasting time, consuming energy or attention, confusing priorities. Those kinds of things occasionally need to be "plucked out" and cast away.

There are so many ways to cultivate growth and progress in life, and I #GiveThanks for those opportunities that I am aware of and trying to follow. But I appreciate the importance of regularly "checking the soil" and pulling the weeds to preserve the best possible growth environment!

And it's important to acknowledge that just like a "good" plant such as a tomato can become a weed by growing in a place where it is not wanted or intended, a good activity can become negative or harmful if done in an inappropriate time or way in our life. One leader gave the example of a person who spends so much time on family history research that he neglects his family. An obsession with exercise that overrides other needs could be another. That kind of "weed" in our life is often harder to recognize and to remove. Sincere introspection and evaluation are critical, and being willing to listen to counsel from others.