A Soul Full of Weeds
Where I live, we have had a drought for two years. My family moved into our house almost two years ago. When we moved, both front and back yards had grass. (Can you see where this is going?)
Two years of intense heat, little rain, and city water restrictions later, our yard is in sad shape. Much of the grass is gone, but, my oh my, how the weeds flourish. These are not the pretty, flowery weeds, either. These are ugle, prickly, tall weeds. I swear they grow about 5 inches a day. We do mow, but in two days you can not tell.
We tried a kind of weed-killing granule, but no luck. I have resorted to pulling them with a shovel and my bare hands. I think a trip to a Major-Home-Improvement-Center is in order. In the meantime, the new weeds are sprouting even as I type.
My life feels the same way. Lent is a time of soul-growth and a rooting out of all that keeps us from God. However, the weeds flourish in our souls, especially during Lent. The journey through the desert, with its sacrifices, meatless Fridays, fasting - Lent in all its beautiful austerity - makes the conditions ripe for weeds to spring up.
Commit to praying a certain amount of time every day - POP! Weeds of distraction, irritation, and distractability arise. Giving up sweets - POP! Your friend bakes cookies, your favorite, just for you. Giving up television - POP! The movie you have been waiting to see is airing tommorrow. It is Friday, so no meat - POP! After a long day you return home to find nothing but meat pasta sauce, meat ravioli, and chili in the pantry. It won’t hurt if you just have it. After all, you are hungry, and no one will know. It isn’t like it ruins all of Lent.
POP! Pop! POP! All around, the weeds are springing up.
Less than two weeks left of Lent. Now is the time to watch for weeds, and yank ‘em up at first sight. As my lawn testifies, if you allow weeds to grow, and if you do not care for your lawn (or soul) correctly, the weeds take over, smothering all that is good and worthy.
Did you fall away from your Lenten committments? You still have time. Get back in there - pray those prayers, give up those sweets, turn off that t.v. Most of all, get a good pair of gloves and a trowel, and watch out for those weeds!
Sandy wrote,
Christine,
You are a very gifted writer. I feel like I’m sitting across the kitchen table from you sharing a cup of coffee while I read your blogs.
Thanks for sharing!
Link | March 27th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Christina wrote,
Christine,
This post really hit home for me. I have been a major slacker this Lent. Somehow I convince myself that the everyday sacrifices are enough, and I shouldn’t have to make the extra effort. That’s one big ugly weed and it needs to go…thanks for your thoughts.
Link | March 30th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
christinemarie wrote,
I hear you, Christina! I am dealing with that issue for sure! There are times every life can be enough. Two years ago my sister passed after a long illness right as Lent began. The aftermath was more than enough of a desert journey, and it certainly sufficed. I do not have that excuse this year, and no amount of ‘being too busy’ excuses my lazy self!
Link | March 30th, 2007 at 10:03 pm