Weeding is a tricky
business because weeds mimic good plants. Weeds in the older versions of the
Bible were called “tares”—probably a ryegrass known as darnel. Seedling darnel
is almost impossible to distinguish from seedling wheat. Once established,
these weeds are nearly intractable. Even sieving the grain to remove their
seeds is ineffective because they are the same size as the wheat seeds. Thus,
these seeds are milled with the wheat seeds, creating bitter bread.
Life’s weeds also
mimic healthy growth. For example, we should nurture our bodies with nutritious
food, regular rest, consistent exercise. But a legitimate concern for our
health can become a greedy, nutrient-sucking weed, which suffocates our search
for life:
Our efforts at physical perfection offer us
tangible solutions to fix what ails us -- the newest gym, the latest diet, hip
fashions, a nip or tuck here or there. These cures require effort, energy, and
money, but actually enable us to avoid the tedious and scary prospect of searching
inward. They make us feel alive, but keep us from looking into the recesses of
our soul.
As the weed of
physical perfection matures, we deceive ourselves by calling it "discipline"
or "keeping a trim figure" or "staying in shape." But the
bitter seeds remain: "We may look better and be healthier than ever, but
continue to feel just as awful."
Some time ago I
planted a packet of coneflower seeds. Nothing sprouted for several weeks. Was
it bad seed? Finally a few green leaves poked through the soil. Were they
weeds? I was on the verge of executing them when I noticed a similarity to
coneflower leaves. Still unsure, I let them grow. In another week, I joyously
recognized about a dozen seedling coneflowers.
What is sprouting
in my heart? Is it the worship of physical health or the desire to care for my God-given
body? Is it a love of money or the desire to be a faithful steward? What is
sprouting in my child's life? Are her testy responses merely the normal
struggle for independence or is it the weed of rebellion? My challenge is to
recognize, then remove true weeds before they mature and drop their horde of
punishing seeds into my life.
Unfortunately, my
capacity for self-deception is immense. Even though my vision is 20/20 when it
comes to a friend's obsession with his leisure, my vision is about 20/2,000,000 when
it comes to my own bossy argumentativeness. Therefore, I must humbly and
continually ask God to see with his eyes:
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test
me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and
lead me in the way everlasting. (Ps.139)
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