5. Weeds and Wheat

And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?”
—Matthew 13: 27

Weeds are unavoidable.

Planting a garden, you plant weeds as well. Till the soil, and you make room for the weeds. By birds, wind, and insects: Weeds are planted by nature because where there is bare soil, nature begins to plant.

Weeds are a metaphor for what is not important to us. They survive because like imperfection and doubt and fear, they are part of the world. They remain in a field because we don’t spend time cultivating our soil.

Some of the plants we call weeds can be the most beautiful of flowers like daises or the most delicious vegetable like dandelion greens—just like some of the most painful experiences can provide the most important moments of our lives; but when weeds grow in a field that should be producing wheat, they can kill the crop.

You have wheat in your life. Wheat is the soul-filled experiences you crave like good bread. You can’t make bread without the wheat. The question is: Are you getting rid of the weeds?

I will go root away
The noisome weeds which without profit suck
The soil's fertility from wholesome flowers.
–William Shakespeare

What weeds are preventing you from the meaningful life you crave?