Apples of Gold

Over the last week or two I have spent far more time than I desired on my hands and knees in our backyard. Each spring, as the earth begins to warm, the sun’s rays awaken a seemingly endless army of weeds lurking just beneath the pea gravel lining our slate walkway. The initial assault must be met quickly and decisively in order to avoid a continual onslaught throughout the spring and summer. 

I have found that the most effective approach to eliminating these interlopers is slowly and methodically removing each of them individually. The tops are simple to eradicate but unless gentle but steady pressure is applied the roots will not be extricated. If the roots are not dislodged the weeds’ return is almost immediate and often they return with a whole troop of friends. 

After spending hours over several days hunting down the invasive intruders, I determined to trudge on until the last enemy was vanquished. Despite the work gloves, my fingers burned, several nails were left jagged and I was beyond exhausted.

The walkway is now weed-free and looking sharp. Despite my meticulous care I realize this is not the end of the battle. The weeds will come back. There will be far less than the preliminary onslaught. They will be easier to pull, but without doubt they will be there. Total eradication will be an ongoing process.

Just as the weeds lie in wait, popping up when the conditions are favorable, thorns and briers skulk in the soil of our hearts; ready to burst forth at the most inopportune time. 

Staying alert, and on guard, expecting weeds to poke through allows us to be prepared for immediate retaliation. 

My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. Proverbs 4:20-27

The wisdom of Solomon challenges us to be diligent. Our hearts are susceptible to attack from without and within. The first course of action is to not only know the Word of God but to allow it to permeate every fiber of our being. 

On my slate walkway anything growing is considered a weed and immediately slated for removal. Working in a garden or a field can become more tricky, especially when plants are just beginning to grow.

Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted the good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’ ‘An enemy has done this!’ The farmer exclaimed. ‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ They asked. ‘No’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’” Matthew 13:24-29

At times weeds growing in our lives can appear harmless or even helpful. A phenomenon known as Vavilovian Mimicry occurs when weeds bear a remarkable likeness to a nearby crop or a plant. One example is Velvetleaf, which imitates the exotic Elephant Ear plant. If it sneaks by unnoticed this weed grows extremely quickly, reaching heights of up to 7 feet tall. Velvetleaf also has the ability to lie dormant in the soil up to 50 years, waiting for the perfect time to reveal its existence. 

Vigilance is required to quickly identify the imposters, camouflaging themselves among the healthy plants. We often rely far too heavily on intentions. The mitigation of our intentions can turn a godly desire into a fleshly disaster. Our desire to correct, or excuse troubling behavior must be shrouded in the grace and mercy of our Lord. Paul warns us that an imbalanced approach can cause irreparable harm to another:

I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. Now, however it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him. 2 Corinthians 2:5-8

Healthy plants can show characteristics of undesirable weeds. Diligence is required to not prematurely pull the wheat assuming it is a weed. Keeping a pure heart and a mature level of discernment is absolutely a prerequisite for distinguishing the harvest from the hazard! 

May our weeding always be approached with truth and love, resulting in a healthy, thriving reflection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Ephesians 4:15