Roses & Weeds

"When I have trouble writing, I step outside my studio into the garden and pull weeds until my mind clears - I find weeding to be the best therapy there is for writer's block."  Irving Stone



Spending time in my garden usually provides some interesting insights, and working around the rose bushes recently was no exception.

It had been quite a while since I'd weeded, and it was getting difficult to see the roses, so I headed to the garden.  I had a sense of satisfaction as I pulled the weeds and grasses that had grown up around the bushes.  As I got closer to the roses however, things got a bit more difficult.  The thorns on the bushes poked me as I tried to free them from these invaders who were robbing them of sunlight and nutrients.  It seemed that the roses had not only learned to live with these intruders, but were now actually defending them.  The closer I got to the roses, the more difficult the task became until it seemed they were actually attacking me.

All of this started me thinking about how we recognize and deal with the "weeds" in our life - the habits/behaviors which are not life-giving and keep us from becoming all we are called to be.

Reflection Questions:
What are the "sunlight & nutrients that I need to flourish?

What are the things that deprive me of these?

What steps can I take to ensure I get the "sunlight & nutrients" I need? (start with 1 or 2 things)

Prayer:
All loving God, thank you for the gift of life.  Help me recognize those things that keep me from becoming all you have created me to be.  May my life give you praise.  Amen