Make a New Normal

The siren song of weeds

"The siren song of the weeds" by Drew Downs

I wrote a post the other day in which I typed “reign” when I should have typed “rein”.

It was a simple slip, and one I didn’t notice. It was pointed out on Facebook and for the next day, the only comments on the post were about the spelling.

The post was actually a bold post of a present progressive moment and a new awakening that will overtake our tired liberal/conservative culture. A prophetic post, really. So why was a spelling mistake what these people focused on?

"The siren song of weeds" by Drew Downs

The weeds are seductive and we are constantly called to wade into them. Share on X

The weeds are seductive and we are constantly called to wade into them.

The thing about weeds is that when they show up in a garden, you need to pull them. They deprive the vegetables and flowers of nutrients. When you want to grow things, you need to pull the weeds.

Weeds are great in natural settings, where wildflowers compete with tall grass. There is great beauty in the uncultivated spaces in nature. And our lives need plenty of those spaces. Our churches and businesses and communities need those spaces.

But if we’re called to do something? Just pull the weeds. We have to get in there and do it, but then tend the garden. The weeds aren’t the purpose, the goal, or the reward. They’re the distraction none of us wants.

2 responses

  1. colettect Avatar
    colettect

    Might the weeds cause a distraction from the uncomfortable fruit of the post? I have learned, the hard way, that this is too often true in my life. Now when I focus on weeds, be they the dream (nightmare) of thinking I must be perfect or right or the tyranny of rules over love, even misspelled words or others’ irritating ways, I stop. I pray. I realize that I am unconsciously avoiding a harder and more fruitful truth. Prayer and grace help me look past my ego, the weed that strangles all good, to face what I avoid. I always learn from facing the larger truth, from tossing aside the distraction of the weeds, no easy task as it usually requires pain, accepting some part of me I dislike, avoid and neglect.

    It is always easier to be right. I’ve been led to believe the better choice is to be free. With humility, I submit this.

    1. I think it is! I also don’t think it is intentional or understood as that. It seems to me that we use correction, cool behavior, sarcasm as deflection and avoidance. Maybe a way of regaining control and being right? I could totally see that.

      I love how you describe your process of recognizing it in yourself and slowing down and resetting yourself. Awesome! That takes real strength and self-control.

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