For those who have been reading the blog for any length of time, you may remember that I’ve written a couple of posts based on my gardening experiences (Hot Days in the Weeds and More Time Spent in the Weeds.)
Now, let me say first, “I’m no gardener.” So, if you are looking for real tips, you won’t find them here. In fact, you’ll probably read about my experiences and conclude that you won’t be following my lead!
My Most Recent Experience
This summer I decided to tackle a couple of the landscaped areas in our yard. (Oh, how I wish I’d done this in the spring before it was 90+ degrees outside! Wait, this may be a good tip. Tackle your big projects before the heat sets in!)
Anyway, these areas are pretty good sized and had been overrun with grass and weeds. Each day I worked a couple of hours weeding, rototilling, and eventually putting down weed block. This time I overlayed the edging of the weed block (I’m referring to Hot Days in the Weeds here!) Then I mulched over the weed block, and it still looks very good for the most part. However, as you can see, some weeds are coming up along the edges.
Here’s the thing. The weeds aren’t coming up because of something I did. They are springing up because of something I didn’t do. You see when I cleaned up the area, I quickly grabbed the weeds from the top and pulled. I did not take the time to dig down and get them by the roots!
I felt sure with the way the weed block had been laid, that the weeds in the middle had been taken care of. Today, however, I had to get down along the edges and dig out those pesky weeds, roots and all.
Reflecting as I Worked
As I was digging into the earth and pulling out the weeds, I thought about my life.
Often, I allow myself to get comfortable or become complacent with my spiritual life. I reason that I am fulfilling my responsibilities by the things I do – attending church, assisting with church activities, participating in devotional practices, and engaging in regular prayer.
It’s as if I have a Spiritual Checklist and all the boxes have been checked. I declare myself good. Pride sets in. I open myself to weeds around the edges.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ Luke 12:16-20
This is me. I go through my list. I think I’ve got things together. I’m set and good to go.
I. I. I…. One could probably say that I have an “I problem.”
Pride (notice the center of the word pride is “I”) ruins so many people. In fact, it’s been the problem since the Fall – Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, King Saul, King David, the Pharisees, the Sadducees. They all had pride issues, leading them to sin. They are not the only ones. Pride follows me every day!
Just like my landscaped areas, when I place myself at the center, not taking the time to do the work of getting to the root of my sin, I might look good at first glance – until the edges are inspected.
That’s the challenge, isn’t it? To be constantly on guard against comfort and complacency. Always aware of our prideful tendencies. Faithful to do the hard work.
For our own walk and continued growth and for those whose lives we influence.
