My friend Dennis grows grass for a living. He’s the superintendent at a local golf course.
Our small group was discussing The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-9). It’s the story of a man who scatters seed in four kinds of soil. We spent a lot of time on verse 7:
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.
We asked ourselves this question: How can we do “weed control” in our own lives? Based on our discussion and Dennis’ insights, I concocted a parable.
Two men wanted to have healthy, inviting, kid-friendly lawns.
The first man resolved to eliminate weeds. He pulled weeds, poisoned them, dug them up. He became obsessed with weeds, and grew to hate them even in others’ yards. He saw weeds everywhere. He even built a tall fence to protect his yard from weeds that seemed to invade from all sides, but nothing worked. The weeds always returned, stronger and more plentiful than before. The man became angry and bitter toward a world that seemed to offer only weeds.
The other man focused on the grass. He watered, fertilized, aerated, and did everything possible to grow healthy grass with deep, well-established roots. After some time he discovered that fewer weeds germinated in thick, vigorous turf. He still pulled an occasional dandelion, but his lawn was relatively weed-free even though he paid little attention to weeds.
What results did each man’s approach produce? Do you see any parallels in your life?
Tomorrow I want to talk about some applications. For now:
What are your thoughts about being a turf grower more than a weed eliminator?
Please leave a comment here.
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