I am a gardener at heart. My mother taught me how to lovingly care for plants at a young age, and pruning and weeding became soothing to my soul as I became an adult.
How I’m Pulling Weeds in My Faith
Every time I walk out my front door to check the mail or pull the trash can and recycling bin down our steep driveway, I inevitably notice a few newly sprouted weeds in my flower bed. Sometimes I’ll stay outside for fifteen minutes, faithfully pulling weeds, and my children will come out on the front porch, looking for me. They’re starting to learn that I always pause to pull the weeds.
If I go out of town for a few days, or if I don’t spend much time outside for a week because of inclement weather or an overly hectic schedule, the weeds begin to take over. Then, removing them starts to feel like a chore instead of a habit, like a problem rather than a pastime. When the weeds are out of control, I detest caring for my garden instead of enjoying it.
My spiritual life follows a similar pattern. I’ve discovered that regular weeding provides great results, but an untended faith, like an untended flower bed, becomes an ugly eyesore in need of upkeep.
When I neglect to pray, read Scripture, or fellowship with other believers, pesky idols creep in and threaten to take over, pulling me away from my purpose of glorifying God. If I don’t immediately pull these distractions by their roots, or identify and eliminate their true source, the persistent and resilient weeds multiply.
I love the expression “Bloom where you’re planted,” but a flower can’t bloom when weeds are stealing its water and nutrients.
Read more at The Glorious Table.