Hothouse Growth

We’ve had some good summer warmth and sunshine over the past few weeks, interspersed by days like today – windy and overcast and relatively cool.

I dip in and out of the garden, attacking the weeds in one small patch one day, those in another a different day. As we get towards the longest day and the warmest weather, I notice the speed of growth of the pesky weeds accelerates and if I’m not diligent, the buttercups and ground elder and sticky willow can take over, spreading their tentacles and roots everywhere, strangling the life out of the plants I so carefully tend.

Be alert, Jesus advises. Forgive as your father forgave you. Completely. Unconditionally. Lovingly. Consigning the memory of the incident to the eternal waste bin.

Somebody says or does something that irritates or hurts you. You laugh it off but to tell the truth, the seed of the infraction settles into your memory and begins to take root. You say you’d like to forget it but in fact every so often you entertain the memory of it, and the remembered offence begins to grow, responding to the warmth and light you give it.

Be alert. Don’t allow a grudge to develop. Don’t permit yourself to take offense. Don’t entertain memories of others’ failures towards you. Don’t give heat and light to the negative, which can grow ‘like Topsy’ and strangle the positive.

Accentuate the positive. Nurture and feed the good memories; air them, give them heat and light, encourage them to grow like tropical flowers in a jungle, to bear good fruit that will nurture others.

Give the negative to God, and leave it there to wither. Be alert. Be on your guard.

I’ll try to take my own advice.