58.7. Crabgrass and Dandelions

Crabgrass - Photo from
"Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide"

Crabgrass
Do not let the name fool you. It isn't really grass.  It is green, but that's where the similarities end. 

Once this ugly weed takes root it spreads all over.  Once it spreads it starts to choke the healthy grass.  The roots run deep into the ground. You can pull it up, but unless you get to the root it will just keep coming back.

Our self-perceptions are a lot like this.  Our internal thoughts manifest themselves in a material way.  If our thoughts are ugly, we are ugly.  If we have self-deprecating thoughts, we depreciate our value as a human being.

Just like with the crabgrass we can try to just do a quick fix.  We can run from our thoughts by going on vacation, or cover them up with a smile. All the while the root of the problem remains.  Remove the root and you remove the issue.  Just treating the surface will never do.

Dandelions

Do you remember when you were a kid how you used to blow on a dandelion and watch the little white things float through the air?

I don't like it anymore.  I cringe when I see our kids do it because I know what those little white things are. Those little white "things" are seedlings and though they are tiny, they turn into a bigger problem. More dandelions.

Pretty soon you have an entire lawn of those yellow weed, flower wanna-be's. However, its not just in your lawn... its spread to your neighbor's lawn as well.

Deceit is much like this.  It all starts out innocent enough.  We tell a little "white lie".  We float the lie out there and think that it is over, but it has just begun.

Pretty soon that lie forces us into another lie.... and another one.  Before we know it our lives are nothing, but one lie after another.  We trick ourselves into believing the lies.  We tell ourselves that we have a flower garden... when in fact we just have one giant weed bed.

The worst part is that it no longer just affects our lives, but everyone around us.

The next time you see a patch of crabgrass or a dandelion stop and think about your life.  Is there anything that you need to remove that is choking your spiritual life?  If so, take a moment to get to the root of the problem.  You'll be glad you did.

And don't blow on dandelions... if you can help it.