The Root of the Problem

The Root of the Problem

By Vickie G. Paver

Yesterday I was working in our flower garden by our entranceway. I was preparing it for my spring bulbs and also making way for the sprouting iris bulbs. While looking over the garden to see where I wanted to start, I realized that several weeds had taken root and were flourishing! I gathered my cultivating tools and started digging and pulling weeds. Some of the weeds I pulled gently and they came out with no trouble. While pulling weeds, I noticed a vine like weed that spread across the corner of the garden. It came out easily, but left little pockets in the soil when I pulled the vine out. This was caused by the individual root systems along the vine. No problem. I just took my tools, dug up the soil and smoothed it over. It looked nice. Also, dandelions had taken root in my flower garden. The heads of these weeds were small, but the root system grew deep. I then took my spade and dug deeply into the ground---all around the roots systems, loosening the roots hold. Some of these deeper-rooted weeds still broke off without me getting all of the root system. Not to be deterred I dug even deeper, pulling out every last bit of root. It is amazing how dandelions have such a DEEP root system and cause so much work!

Keeping weeds down is a constant problem for gardeners and a lot of work! Weeding is only half of the work for gardeners though. We must also cultivate and promote healthy growth of good plants in our gardens. Some flowers and vegetables take very little care and time. However, certain flowers and vegetables take CONSTANT care. I don't pay much attention to my iris and violas, other than general maintenance. My roses on the other hand get constant attention. I cultivate around them frequently. I fertilize and look for ways to fight blackspot, rust, mildew, beetles, cutter bees and spider mites! In the winter a person needs to mulch and protect roses with some kind of barrier. Pruning gets rid of the old and dead and promotes new green health in the spring and summer. The gardeners' work is never done!

I'm sure by now you are getting the picture about how much care flowers, good fruit and vegetables take! Have you ever noticed though that you don't have to promote the growth of weeds!! Weeds are unpleasant pests that can choke the life right out of your garden if you let them grow and spread!

While working in the garden I began to think about my heart condition. Was it free of the weeds of sin? Had I allowed any sin to grow, spread out or root deeply in my heart. Think about this. Do you have to cultivate or promote jealousy, anger, pettiness, criticism, gossip, pride, insensitivity, greed, selfishness and other such things to take root in your heart? Of course not! We all know that these things take root with no encouragement on our part. In fact as Christians we have to let God weed out such things everyday. The Holy Spirit cultivates our hearts through Bible reading, prayer and by pricking our consciousness. We don't want "sin" choking the life right out of us. Like the little weed with the deep root, something as small as frustration with a situation can grow into anger and then anger into bitterness. Before you know it, something that was so small at first, has grown and taken hold of our hearts. It is hard to get rid of and we have to allow God to dig it out. Sometimes the digging and tearing out is painful, but necessary in order for the good things like love, gentleness, peace and compassion to be able to grow in our hearts. The end result though is a life pleasing before God and an inward beauty planted and grown by the Holy Spirit.

vpaver@paversnest.com

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