Good morning. It’s great to be back.

I hope I won’t be replicating the subject matter that someone else may have read in the last 2 weeks, and I would be very surprised if someone else did a spiritual reading like this – and speaking of replicating – my reading this morning is on weeds.

I am referring to your everyday noxious and obnoxious weeds and how it applies to new thought. Well, I don’t know about new thought and older–than-old weeds, but I find that the physical act of weeding, (usually while on my knees) is a metaphor for the personal weeds that I have in my own life.

I can pull and yank the newer weeds by hand, thereby disposing of them quickly; however for the stubborn long rooted intruders, shoveling does the trick - along with a few cuss words truth be known. I find this to be a spiritually uplifting and therapeutic endeavor.

In fact, I find yard work to be a moving meditation in and of itself, and part of the package include the weeds. I find that when a petty thought or judgment rears it’s head I can dispose of it quite easily through changing my thinking right there and then.

However, when I have a heavy burden on my heart, the hurt goes deeper and cannot be swatted away like a pesky fly, thus the shoveling is required through reflection and prayer. And when the weeding is done for that particular day, I know there will be more weeds to pull tomorrow, because as we know these pesky God blessed things will appear to duplicate overnight.

I will weed again tomorrow and tomorrow I will also reflect on my thoughts and behaviors. I believe weeds could very well be an oxymoron – they are invasive and can kill beautiful plants and vegetables, however, weeds are also a way for us to be mindful of , or to give life to - not only our physical gardens, but our spiritual gardens as well. I like my garden – and the weeds too, have their place.

Marie