Weeds 🍃

Tend the garden of your heart and soul.

I have a garden. I love it, truly I do.

I wrote in a previous blog post about gardening (Sept ‘21), how that I was struck by considering how God created a garden, not just speaking it into being, but planting it (Genesis 2v8) … it’s as though He actively took part in the planting and design of it, especially for his new human friends.

Today I’m rather more taken up with weeds! More specifically this one … “Ground elder is a herbaceous, perennial plant. It spreads via rhizomes (underground stems), which can regenerate from just a tiny fragment left in the ground … ground elder can easily creep in from a neighbouring garden or nearby wasteland. It can also be unknowingly introduced with new plants if pieces of its fleshy, white rhizome are hidden within the compost of the rootball or are tucked away among the roots of the plant.” (RHS)

I call it a weed but it is in fact a plant. There’s no stopping it! It’s taking over my borders and infringing upon anything within its underground rhizome reach. It would take dedicated time every day to get on top of it, or to just poison the whole garden, killing everything then starting from scratch (not too desirable or environmentally friendly). However, if I had been here when the first one crept over from the neighbors garden and had carefully dug it up, roots and all, then fastidiously watched out for the next one and proceeded with the culling process, I would have protected my garden and not have the huge influx which I now face. I inherited the ‘problem’ as the ground elder was already rather happily established when I purchased the property but the principle of careful maintenance and awareness of spread still applies.

So many distractions, excuses, good works and seeing the needs in others can take our focus from the weeds spreading in our own spiritual lives. Subtly, under the surface, creating a invasive root system which then presents above the surface as something ugly. Discretion and wisdom are required to pay attention to the warning signs of early weed growth and then drastic action required to kick them in to touch before their roots multiply.

In every life this weed may present itself in a different way. Your vulnerability and temptation will be different to mine. 

Be warned … it is so easy in life to see the ‘weeds’ in someone else and to even encourage them to deal with them (Matt 7v3-4), whilst your own invasive network is galloping away, taking over another area of your heart and life.

So the next time you reach for your ‘roundup stump killer’ or even just see some weeds, consider the soil of your heart and take note of what’s being nurtured. The more we fill our minds and souls with God’s word and truth, the less space there will be for toxic substance. The fruit of the spirit (Gal 5v22-23) and armour of God (Eph 6v10-18) will bring light and life, quelling negative invasions. Those subtle workings of darkness in the shadows desperately want to emerge in outworkings in your life and mine (1 Peter 5v8) … let’s say no! and daily make sure our root system is embedded in the true vine (John 15v4), one which bears fruit for the glory of our God.

Ingrid x