Weed season is here.
We’re barely into spring here in Sheboygan, and already a dang thistle has popped up in the middle of our fire pit. The thistles annoy me the most because the little jerks spread so quickly and are difficult to uproot with your bare hands.
The guys who installed our fire pit three years ago pounded that crushed-gravel surface so hard I was certain nothing would grow there for a century.
Obviously, that was more wishful thinking than science.
At least the maintenance is pretty minimal. Even though the packed ground makes pulling weeds difficult, a couple squirts of Round-Up will take them out in no time.
I can’t say the same for the side of our house.
It’s an area we haven’t figured out a use for yet, that we’ve let run wild with weeds. But it’s relatively hidden and serves as a privacy buffer with our neighbor for now.
If and when we do decide to clean it up, a little Round-Up won’t do. I doubt a whole day would be enough time to do the whole job.
This makes me think of our spiritual life, with weeds playing the role of sin and vice.
They start out singular, small, and seemingly harmless. But those suckers are fast, quick to encroach upon all that is good and beautiful. Left unchecked, it doesn’t take long for our lives to become a veritable jungle of weeds, choking out all the virtue, goodness, and peace.
Restoration and beautification become a major undertaking. Not one too big for Jesus, but it’s gonna take more than a weekend. A good, solid confession is the first step, but it takes effort to grow back the habits of virtue that have been strangled for so long.
It’s always better to keep Round-Up at hand, in the form of a Church-approved weed killer for our souls. This includes:
- Daily Prayer
- Mass
- Spending time before the Blessed Sacrament
- Monthly confession
- The Rosary
Because of our fallen nature, it doesn’t take long for weeds to spring up in our lives. But regularly spritzing some spiritual Round-Up into our routine helps keep them from taking over.
Vigilance is key! It’s easy to let things slide. After all, what’s one or two weeds? But sin grows fast, friend. Before you know it, it’s taken over your life, things get ugly, and now you’ve got a real project on your hands.
Thankfully, the Church has given us the tools we need to zap them, making the upkeep of our souls easier.
And remember, repeated applications are necessary!
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