Weeds, debris, and trees, oh my!

If God didn’t think twice about taking pruning shears to the natural branches, why would he hesitate over you? He wouldn’t give it a second thought. Make sure you stay alert to these qualities of gentle kindness and ruthless severity that exist side by side in God—ruthless with the deadwood, gentle with the grafted shoot. But don’t presume on this gentleness. The moment you become deadwood, you’re out of there.

Romans 11:21-22
From The Message Bible

Prune

Verb

Definition of prune

Pruned; pruning

transitive verb
1a:to reduce especially by eliminating superfluous matter

• pruned the text

prune the budget

1b:to remove as excessive

• prune away all ornamentation

2:to cut off or cut back parts of for better shape or more fruitful growth

• prune the branches

gardener

noun  gardener  \ ˈgär-də-nər , ˈgärd-nər

Definition of gardener

plural gardeners

: a person who gardens:

1: one employed to care for the gardens or grounds of a home, business concern, or other property 

• a professional gardener

…he wants to stay on the island and become a nursery gardener, like his grandfather

2: one who spends time cultivating plants and tending a garden for pleasure or recreation

• Both she and her husband are avid gardeners.
• The natural reaction of an average gardener to most insect and weed problems is to reach for the toxic stuff

debris

noun  de·bris  \ də-ˈbrē , dā-ˈ , ˈdā-ˌ , British usually ˈde-(ˌ)brē

Definition of debris

plural debris play \-ˈbrēz, -ˌbrēz\

1: the remains of something broken down or destroyed 

• digging through the storm's debris in search of survivors

sifted through the debris of her broken marriage

2: geology: an accumulation of fragments of rock

3: something discarded: rubbish 

• picking up debris after the parade

Both of my parents have participated in a “Master Gardener” class that was an opportunity to become better at planting and more knowledgeable about the world of gardening.  Part of the class required them to put in service hours, helping to answer gardening questions as a way of giving back their hours in the class.  This created an excellent situation of give-and-take for everyone involved in the learning process.  

I know my dad likes to puddle around in his garden.  He likes to put the proper names of plant and herb species in the right places.  My parents also like to use the herbs and fresh vegetables that they grow.  

Good gardening requires specific knowledge about growth.  For instance, each tree or bush has a certain preferred or specific time for pruning--cutting the branches back-- to give the tree or bush better growth in the coming springtime.  Plants must also be transferred from one gardening container to another as they grow, choosing new containers specific for each's place in the sun. 

When the plants, shrubs, and vegetables have reached their full height, their trimmings make for yard trash.  So much of gardening is the sometimes tedious chore of clearing out that yard debris!  Then what to do with it?  In my area, people either recycle our yard trimmings into mulch or put it next to the street so the city picks it up.

Near the end of February 2018 here in North Carolina we had unseasonably warm temperatures outside.  The temperatures ranged from 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit.  Last Fall 2017, a worker ame and cut a tree out in the backyard.  He left a lot of limbs scattered around the yard and leaves needing to be bagged.  Since I had some energy, I decided to go ahead and trim some tree branch limbs that we could later burn in our indoor fireplace.  As I worked, I pondered:  knowing that plants, shrubs and trees are living things, does it cause them pain or a sense of trouble when they get pruned?

Regular pruning on God's time helps us become better people in the Christian life.  Even when one is not able to know the results of the pruning they are getting, it helps so much to trust in God. The Master Gardener,  God can see all.  Pruning is a gift from God that helps turn our souls toward the Light.  

If you are feeling and seeing too much darkness in your life during this Lenten season of 2018, it might help to remember that longer light days are just weeks ahead.  

1. Have you been pruned lately?  If so, how do you think this has happened?
   
2. What does it feel like to be pruned.
   
3. Have you helped “prune” others?
4. Is there anyone you need to make amends to?
5. Has God shown you the reason for a pruning God did on you?
6. What happens when a yard or garden is not properly cared or planned for?
7. Is “pruning” different in the winter than in the summer?  How would that apply to fall and spring as well?

You can contact your community's government center to find out if they have a Master Gardner or similar program. Such programs not only benefit you but also nature and your community as well.

Firestarter

When I let you into the house
I was struggling to build a fire.
I had done some housecleaning that day;
and had swept all the dust away—or so
I had thought.
But then when you came in, you found all the dust harbored
underneath the rug, and showed me the value for which it was;
that of fool's gold.
And I was so ashamed.
Because I had wanted the house to look good for you.
You insisted upon shaking all the dust that was underneath,
making it so that I couldn't see things anymore.
After we both looked at the reality of all
the dust which was cluttering up the house:
you helped me to clean it up and together we
built the fire.

Have fun with your annual Spring cleaning!
Please pass the peace onto others, and yourself,
Here's to another happy Lent and longer days of light

Blessings,
Marci

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