To Weed or Not To Weed?
Well as Shakespeare might say, “Ah, yes. That is the question!” Take a stroll around our church grounds [or perhaps your own yard] and you can spot them here, there, and almost everywhere. Weeds seem to be able to thrive in all types of soil and all sorts of places. If growing weeds were horticulturally acceptable, then I believe anyone could have a “green thumb”!
In the recent Gospel lessons, Jesus tells his followers two different parables involving weeds. In the first parable, good seeds fall into the weeds and the weeds choked the life out of the tender plants. This week, weeds were secretly sown into the field of good seed and once the plants began to grow nobody (except the Master Gardener) knew what to do. Should we pull them out and risk harming the fragile crop; or should we let them grow for now and risk the crop getting choked out? Quite the dilemma!
These parables hit me square between the eyes this week. In the planting bed around St. Andrew’s illuminated sign on Center Point Road, I had sown some seeds harvested from last year’s Butterfly Weed. As their name implies, they don’t look very special when they sprout, and of course other (unintentional) weeds began to grow as well. This spring, Lori and Jonathan were weeding with me around church when I suggested they skip that bed and let me take care of “separating the wheat from the chaff”.
As you might have guessed, with the many ongoing grounds maintenance tasks we have on our church property, this item dropped down the priority list. When I finally took notice again, it appears to be too late. I can see the stunted sprouts nestled tightly in a mat of creeping weeds. As I attempted to extract some weeds, the good plants came out as well. Yes, Lord. I’ve gotten myself into a pickle again and don’t know what to do.
Life is a lot like this, isn’t it? Sometimes, instead of encouraging others to lend a hand, we try to take on more than we should because “it is just easier if I do it” or “it makes me feel uncomfortable to ask for help”. If we are not careful, weeds can begin to grow in the fissures of our lives and begin to overwhelm us. As a community of Christ, we can work together to support and nurture each other and those around us. Everyone needs (and can be) a helping hand every once in a while.
Thanks be to God!
David Krueger