Tending the flowerbeds and gardens

Weekly weeding...not one of my favorite tasks...but if you have flower beds or a vegetable garden it's part of life. Especially in July and early August, neglect to manage the open spaces in the plots results in weeds that can overwhelm the plants I want to nurture... Like I said...not one of my favorite tasks, but it is a mindless time that offers opportunities for thought and prayer...so here I go!

Matthew 13:1-9

[Jesus] put another parable before them, 'The kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel all among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, then the darnel appeared as well. The owner's laborers went to him and said, "Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?" He said to them, "Some enemy has done this." And the laborers said, "Do you want us to go and weed it out?" But he said, "No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn."

In the midst of the clear, faithful, compassionate, outward reaching thoughts there are those that smack of fear, judgement and cynicism. At the edge of priorities that guide my actions on behalf of others are the desires that invite me to hunker down and protect my own interests.

I become aware of my failures and the times I have caved in to moments of doubt or temptation. I realize that they can gain a foothold in my mind. If I dwell with them, they grow, even if they aren't manifest in my actions. I find myself exerting significant time and energy wrestling with faults, fears...all that is, essentially, not "of" God. I may think that I am actively weeding out the soil of my life with the intention of nurturing the good seeds of faith. What a delusion!

I am reminded by today's reading that it is not up to me to pluck or pull sin from my life. Rather than focus upon my weakness, the places I have stumbled or wandered astray, I prayerfully seek and lean into the regions where good seed is sprouting. I gratefully act from those nudges that are given in my conscience or in my heart as I look towards the needs of the world....the "other".

Spend less time weeding...the divine Love that knows the deepest regions of all that you are can manage that task. Simply dwell with all your heart and mind in Christ and His goodness and mercy will set expansive roots that will ground all that you do! Amen....