Weeding and Trimming: Maintenance for Our Lives

Where I live today was a grand and glorious day, with warm temps and a nice breeze.  It made it almost enjoyable to do some yard work.  Most assuredly not my favorite yard work; trimming shrubs, pulling weeds, running a weed whacker, and sweeping/raking up the mess then boxing it up for the garbage collectors to pick up next week.

It almost seems unfair to talk about such a beautiful day when our friends in Texas and Louisiana are recovering from Hurricane Harvey and the entire state of Florida and much of the southeast is under the gun from Hurricane Irma.

The work I did has its own spiritual application that we could all consider.  Yes, here I go again, with the unlikely comparisons. . .

First, of all we all have things growing in our lives that are out of control, or invading like weeds in a flower bed.  Thus, if we intend to keep the gardens of our life growing, healthy, and beautiful we have to do some maintenance.  This includes pulling the weeds by getting those things out of our life that really don't belong.

Second, just like we need to keep our hair or nails trimmed, so too must we trim and shape the lives we wish to lead.  This involves managing our time, health, and faith.  Nothing should do more to shape our lives than the faith we have.  Each time we engage in spiritual activities such as prayer, meditation, scriptural study, or worship we are taking care of our garden.  Likewise when we maintain a reasonably health diet and take on greater physical activity that strengthens us just like trimming away the unhealthy portions of a plant can make what remains stronger for the future.

Finally we must make sure that when we eliminate things from our lives that we send them packing.  We don't need to hang onto them, or expect them to do us any good for the future.  By removing them (or their temptations) from our immediate area we can limit their ability to harm us.

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, 

that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.  

These things are good and profitable to men.  

Titus 3:8