Matthew 13:24 Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
I was consumed with my lawn in the beautiful days of October. Well, more particularly the ‘lack of lawn’ and the preponderance of weeds – particularly dandelions. I've been seeding the lawn with new grass seed, but not dandelions seeds - yet, they seem to have taken over. The dandelions and I have been in a full out fight all summer with them constantly gaining the higher ground. I’d go out from time to time with my little dandelion plucker and pop piles of them out – then fertilize and water the grass (of course on the proper watering days). For a moment feeling of satisfaction that I had gained the upper hand would wash over me. I had fought the good fight, waged the pitched battle, however, I would soon realize all that did was tick them off make them mad, and give them lots of rations to boot – because they popped back up with a furious determination, and would bring their tiny militant friends, mocking and daring me to once again engage in battle. I have tried to avoid herbicides for ecological reasons, but, nearing the end of the summer I was considering purchasing a flame thrower or a 45 gallon drum of round up and wiping the whole mess out.
Drastic action was needed. So for the last two weeks of October, I’d been digging up my lawn and attempting to get the whole root of the dandelions. My lawn looks like it was attacked by an infantry of mad gophers – unfortunately in the process my underground cable line was a causality. That was a little embarrassing explaining to first my wife why her internet connection was no longer connected. The problem with dandelions is, unless you get the whole root, they grow back and spread. Why can’t grass be as resilient? The roots of these weeds are big and deep and intertwined.
I’m digging them things out and the pile is getting higher and higher, and my lawn is looking rougher and rougher – I couldn’t believe massive pile that started to build up – I was wishing that the dandelions were at least potatoes, that I was getting a harvest for all my hard work. We’ll see next spring how much of an impact I’ve had. However, I already know that I’m going to have stay on top in the spring, because their little ones are hiding, just waiting to take root.
Anyway, I got weeds and grass on the brain, and dirt under my nails to prove it.
As I trying to carefully remove the whole dandelions out of the ground I couldn’t help reflect on how difficult it is to get completely at the root of weeds that have taken up residence in my own life. In order to get the weeds in my lawn, I’ve had to seriously disrupt the look of my lawn – all the neighbours can see the mess I’ve made. My next door neighbours got so frustrated with their lawns that they scrapped all the grass and weeds off, put down some fresh dirt, and rolled new sod down. For a month it looked terrific, I was thinking about employing the same strategy. But guess what is popping up, dandelions. They scrapped the tops of weeds off and for a short while it all looked beautiful, in order and maculate. But all they did was for a short time cover up the weeds.
Here’s the life lesson, so many times we deal with the ‘surface’ of the problem – try to stop a habit or behaviour, or cover up a inner issue with ‘new sod’, but the root is still in the soil of our life. Somehow we’ve got to get to the root of the matter – pop that whole sucker out – which can leave a bit of hole, but the good part is, it has prepared the soil for new growth. I’m going to adding new seed, and working in new soil into the lawn so the good healthy grass can take root.
Drastic action was needed. So for the last two weeks of October, I’d been digging up my lawn and attempting to get the whole root of the dandelions. My lawn looks like it was attacked by an infantry of mad gophers – unfortunately in the process my underground cable line was a causality. That was a little embarrassing explaining to first my wife why her internet connection was no longer connected. The problem with dandelions is, unless you get the whole root, they grow back and spread. Why can’t grass be as resilient? The roots of these weeds are big and deep and intertwined.
I’m digging them things out and the pile is getting higher and higher, and my lawn is looking rougher and rougher – I couldn’t believe massive pile that started to build up – I was wishing that the dandelions were at least potatoes, that I was getting a harvest for all my hard work. We’ll see next spring how much of an impact I’ve had. However, I already know that I’m going to have stay on top in the spring, because their little ones are hiding, just waiting to take root.
Anyway, I got weeds and grass on the brain, and dirt under my nails to prove it.
As I trying to carefully remove the whole dandelions out of the ground I couldn’t help reflect on how difficult it is to get completely at the root of weeds that have taken up residence in my own life. In order to get the weeds in my lawn, I’ve had to seriously disrupt the look of my lawn – all the neighbours can see the mess I’ve made. My next door neighbours got so frustrated with their lawns that they scrapped all the grass and weeds off, put down some fresh dirt, and rolled new sod down. For a month it looked terrific, I was thinking about employing the same strategy. But guess what is popping up, dandelions. They scrapped the tops of weeds off and for a short while it all looked beautiful, in order and maculate. But all they did was for a short time cover up the weeds.
Here’s the life lesson, so many times we deal with the ‘surface’ of the problem – try to stop a habit or behaviour, or cover up a inner issue with ‘new sod’, but the root is still in the soil of our life. Somehow we’ve got to get to the root of the matter – pop that whole sucker out – which can leave a bit of hole, but the good part is, it has prepared the soil for new growth. I’m going to adding new seed, and working in new soil into the lawn so the good healthy grass can take root.
If we could look at our life, and see it as a lawn, how much weeding do we need to do?
Anyway, I was just thinking,
Neil
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