Weeds!

This is not our garden, but ours was not much better than this one.

This year is the first year that I have helped Regina in the garden. I've always been interested in gardening, but our previous garden in Louisiana was so small, Regina really didn't need any help. This year our garden has grown from about 80 sq. ft. to almost 6000 sq. ft. (Not every square foot is planting space, but that's the area the fence encompasses) So the need for my help this year was obvious. We tried organic gardening this year, which requires a little more work, and a lot more "know-how". Regina, being the smarter of the two of us, has been the resident expert on animals and plants (although she would not assign herself "expert" status), and I have been the manual labor. I have endeavored to learn as much as I can, but its much easier to let her plan the garden since she's got the experience and a better ability to retain things she reads.

Well, this year we got in a little over our heads. We were completely unprepared for the massive amounts of weeds we would have to contend with. Being a novice gardener, I thought: "One good tilling with a rented tiller, and we'll be good to go!". I couldn't have been more wrong. With Regina's experience, she most likely knew the weeds would be worse than I thought. Regardless, since we were without a gas-powered tiller for most of the year, we were woefully unequipped to deal with the "Great Weed Invasion of 2007". Actually, they didn't really invade. They were there first, and had no intention of leaving without a fight. Now that we have a borrowed Roto-tiller (thank you, thank you, thank you Nanci and Bill!) we have reconquered the garden. Still, it was a lessoned learned. It is so completely depressing to put tons of work into a garden at the beginning of a season, only to stand there a few months later looking at weeds higher than your head (that's 6 ft for me!).

Now that we have reconquered the garden, I REFUSE to let the weeds get out of control again. I go out there at least every other day and attack any baby weeds I see with a hoe. If I just devote a little time to it every now and then, its completely manageable. Its when I get lazy and complacent that I get into trouble.

Now's it's time for the obligitory biblical reference. After all, you can pull all kinds of good analogies out of life and use them as reminders and inspiration in your spiritual walk...

"Jesus told them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared." Matthew 13:24-26

At the moment of our conversion, God plants the good seed of His word and spirit into our hearts. However, that does not release us from the temptation of sin. The enemy actively sows weeds among the good wheat in our lives. If we're not careful to squash those weeds when their getting established, they'll grow out of control.

"Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." James 1:15

We've all seen it. Take adultery for example. (Don't worry, its just an example) Do any of us think that adultery just happens? Absolutely not! It begins with that first little weed seed planted by the enemy: the temptation. We allow it. We see the weed and just ignore it. But it doesn't stay little. It grows bigger and bigger and still it remains unpulled. Eventually the desire gives birth to the actual sin, and once that's fully grown..death. Death of a marriage, death of a family (metaphorical), death of a relationship with God. If a garden is full of weeds, the crop will die. Without regular care and watering, it can not survive.

No matter where we are in our relationship with God, our faith needs TLC. We can not expect to combat the devices of the enemy if we do nothing to keep our walk straight and strong. Reading His word, praying unceasingly, and remaining vigilant in our defense against sin are the best ways we can maintain a healthy garden. After all the Lord has done to till the hard surface of our stubborn will, make our soil healthy and ready to receive Him, and then planting His seed in our soul, how can we do any less?

"Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you." Hosea 10:12

Again, not our garden. I wish it was.