Weeds

There is something satisfying about pulling a weed out of the ground, roots and all. Weeds are a symbol of disorder; they are like bad habits that suck nutrients away from the good fruits we want to grow. Yet our lives are full of the clutter of living. We can’t make or eat dinner without creating dirty dishes. Screws, wires, and sawdust litter the floor in the middle of a construction project. In John 13:10 Jesus observes, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean.” Jesus is not saying you don’t have to wash the dishes, but you don’t have to pressure wash the whole house every time you dirty the pots and pans. It’s a picture of the grace we all need to have for the foibles of others. Each of us needs grace to fall down and get up as we learn new skills. Maybe my garden needs that from me, too. The vines are still producing fruit; it’s just not as picturesque as I want. The weeds remind me that life is messy. And that’s OK as long as they stay small. But yeah, I’m still going to keep pulling those nasty weeds.