Like a weed (you know the type—it grows where it’s not wanted, it’s tenacious, it crowds out stuff you hope will thrive, and it returns over and over again), we’ll be yanked out of the ground, roots and all, by the One who has delivered, who protects the weak, the disgraced, the objects of scorn and evil words. We, who love to be lifted up by those on the slopes to nowhere. Look at me—not so bad as those slackers.
And so, we even boast, glorify ourselves, in our slick words. We plan our strategy, rehearse, and then hit the stage—for all the praise and adoration. “Thank you…thank you,” we dare say to the crowds who take in our beautiful performance—all at the expense of others. Our grievous words have hit their mark straight on. This power of destruction we are all capable of and are happy to revel in…until the Gardner shows up to savagely root out the evil, the untrustworthy, the deceitful, the liars.
Oh so precious life, gifted in exchange for nothing on our part, yet here we go trashing it in the land of public opinion for the trophies of self-importance. Yet here is God waiting for you, with that never-ending, un-imaginable love and kindness and mercy (hesed), so that you grow ravishingly in the garden of his Lordship. Go ahead, place your trust in his bank, nothing in your own account, for He guarantees your flourishing forever. Praise and glory be to this good and gracious Gardner, who cares so much for his creatures.
Let us pray. Thank you, Lord, for life–for air, for sunshine, for moisture, and for dirt. Let us praise your name all day long, in all that we think and say and do. Hallelu to the Lord of the universe. Amen.
