Weeds and Wheat
“During times such as this, weeds and wheat will be planted. Weeds of fear and panic rush through our minds and devices like never before. However, just as darkness will keep growing as we know those pesky weeds do, so will those seeds of wheat. The wheats of faith, endurance, resilience, grace, and love.”
- Jenni Starling
Are you like me during this crisis season, binge-watching all the things on Netflix? Recently, my obsession has been Glee. No matter how old I get, it will always feel magical to see teenagers break into song when any crisis hits their life. Because if I’m honest, that is what my inner monologue does. Right now, I have been dancing and singing to Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror.”
“I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love
It's time that I realize
That there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me, pretending that they're not alone?
A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart
And a washed-out dream
They follow the pattern of the wind ya' see
'Cause they got no place to be
That's why I'm starting with me
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change.”
First things first, you are welcome for now having that song in your head for the remainder of the day. Second, those lyrics are pretty powerful, am I right?
Once I stopped the choreography to this song in my head, I started really thinking about my place in this crisis. Heck, I really need to think about my place before this crisis. How fear had left me silenced and isolated. How past hurt left me victimized and unable to forgive.
Then this crisis hit and somehow the things that were a big deal before, are sorta not a big deal anymore, right? Those loud noises that left us victimized and angry are now quiet. For me when it’s quiet, the only thing I hear is God. Loud and busy are the devil’s playground and if you look around right now, things are the opposite. Yes, there are so many unknowns. For me, for you, for all of us. However, families are together. Devices are being turned off. We are suddenly NOT BUSY.
This holy time is such a reminder that crisis and pain can be used to make us whole. In Matthew 13:24-30 the parable tells us that a farmer’s enemy planted weed seeds in a field of good wheat. Rather than have his workers damage his crops by pulling the weeds mid-season, the farmer instructed them to let the weeds and wheat grow together. At harvest time they would gather the weeds for the burn pile and then they’d harvest the good grain.
During times such as this, weeds and wheat will be planted. Weeds of fear and panic rush through our minds and devices like never before. However, just as darkness will keep growing as we know those pesky weeds do, so will those seeds of wheat. The wheats of faith, endurance, resilience, grace, and love.
What weeds in your life do you think are growing beside your bountiful harvest? Could it be fear, bitterness, unforgiveness, selfishness, or pride? When it is time for the harvest, will you be ready to pluck your weeds with your wheat? The seeds of wheat produce far more fruit than those soul-sucking weeds ever will. What will multiply from those seeds is love, faith, and good deeds. Finding your standing in hard times can be tough. The weeds of fear can quickly take over your mind, body, and family.
Can we make a promise to each other? Can we promise to try our hardest to burn the weeds and multiply the wheat? Can you imagine the transformation that will happen in our hearts and communities during this crisis if that happens? It almost makes me want to break out into another Michael Jackson song in my head.
Be well.
