The minutes are ticking away on my Dad's 59th birthday. I give mad props to the man who is faithful, consistent, disciplined, Godly, and my inspiration for writing. Yesterday I asked him what he wanted for his birthday, and he said the flower bed weeded and the lawn mowed (not the most glamorous, but certainly practical, and a gift I could definitely afford to give!).
So this morning I set about to get rid of some weeds. It turned out to be quite therapeutic and enlightening. At first I simply plucked at the bits of green I saw above the surface and while topically the problem was taken care of, I realized to really get the job done, I needed to get my hands a little bit dirtier. So I turned up the music, got comfortable, and started digging.
Some weeds looked really big on the surface, but when I dug I saw that the roots didn't go all that deep. Others weeds were just the opposite. I'd give a little tug expecting a quick payoff, but would end up putting some muscle into it and only after a hard yank and me falling backwards would the little sucker come out. Other weeds were shallow in depth, but they spanned a wide area, connecting a series of green shoots above the surface. And then there were the ones I would try to uproot, and while I yanked, and tugged and pulled I saw limited progress, but I knew there was still much more beneath the surface. Those would have to wait for another day.
With the grimy dirt beneath my nails and the cool breeze blowing across my neck, I couldn't help but see why Christ so often used agricultural analogies. Aren't much of the issues I face in my life like this flower bed of weeds? Some deceptively small on the surface, but with roots that go quite deep. Then there were the weeds in different areas across the flower bed, that shared one common root. There are the heart issues that take work to discover the root, but I tell you every time I fell on my bum from the effort of exertion, a little grin would creep it's way across my face at the sight of dark rich soil clinging to pale white roots. It took some work to unearth, but it was worth it.
Habits both good and bad have deep roots in my life. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that for the most part, whatever issue I'm dealing with isn't to be taken at face value. There are deeper roots for why I or anyone else acts a certain way. It takes time and patience to cultivate the soil and pull up weeds by the roots. And there is no avoiding getting messy in the process. But when the roots are pulled up and properly examined, understanding and clarity is much greater.
Weeding is a slow process, but one with tangible rewards. I'll head out tomorrow to finish the rest of the flower bed. Hopefully I'll have the same amount of grace and patience as I allow the Master Gardener to cultivate the garden of my life, and the lives of those around me.
