Weeds and Roots
“If weeds constantly overrun your garden rows, ask yourself what those are and why they are growing there. Put down the hoe long enough to consider what the weeds are telling you.” ― Sarah Owens
(The mission of my “Think Outside the Box” essays is to invite you to consider new ways of stretching your brain, breaking through routine thinking, and advancing new avenues of inquisitiveness.)
I spent the entire week weeding an area of my yard that needs to be re-grass-seeded. Because I don’t have the proper tools, I repurpose what I have. (frankly, it should not take a person as long as it took me to finish.) I set out to raze my field of weeds- specifically crabgrass, aptly named. It made me VERY crabby for over a week of seeking and destroying its stubborn design determined to thwart this pathetic human weeder.
Weeds are an interesting part of any yards’ vegetation. Each weed has its own characteristics and relationship with the soil. If you remove them you discover that some give up easily with a single pluck, a shallow root, others fight to the death and finally give way to the four-inch chain saw I use to loosen and remove the root. Some of the roots I had to tackle include the wanderers like the grapevine and ivy. They invest their roots stealthily underground until I dig them out. Some two or three inches thick!
My property is seventy years old. It seems to support the common grape vine more insatiably than any other thing that grows in the yard. As I worked my way around the perimeter of the yard I was confronted over and over (and over) by this beautiful shiny yet murderous vine strangling every other plant or tree in its path. Believe me. I learned all of its tricks and have removed enough vine to reach the moon. An interesting aspect of vine-type plants/weeds is that they send out these tendrils, like a lasso, as they search their next path. At first, the tendrils are tender, but after a while, you will need some hearty clippers to loosen their grip. (This is true also of ivy.) It smothers everything in its path. As I pulled the nasty varmint from its blatantly taunting places I found a lilac bush, a sassafras tree, a mulberry tree, and dozens of Rose of Sharon shoots and bushes. It was like a treasure hunt!
I have a twenty-foot Cedar tree that was completely covered with grapevine leaves- bright and glistening in the sun. Somehow I got lucky and I found the mother root of the grapevine. I sawed it in half and the next day the covering on the cedar tree became limp and turned dead brown. Hah! Dead!
So… What is a weed (assumed undesirable), and what is a flower, that for which we cheer? Here is a definition that is a common one.
Quora: Robin Plough, Major Botany (1964) Answered April 10, 2020 “There are NO real differences: “flowers” are the plants you want to grow in your garden: weeds are any plants that you do NOT want in your garden. One woman’s flower is another woman’s weed!! A classic example is the common Dandelion. Usually considered a weed, especially when they appear in your lawn: But, there are people who specifically grow Dandelions, as the leaves are particularly tasty, and make a delicious addition to some of the more bland salads, on offer.”
Scene.
Flowers and weeds and roots can control our brains. Metaphorically of course.
It is simple enough to identify the flowers of our mind… our loves, our passions, our family, our accomplishments, our favorite activities, our career, things that give us joy, nature, the arts… these positive investments of time write our story. These splays of our lives define us, enrich us, make life worth living. But, we are sometimes beset by what we might call weeds. As we have learned, weeds are insidious. Some weeds can be really beautiful. They bring forth beautiful flowers that tease us. Are you a flower or are you a weed??? We may meet someone. “Oh, my! You seem wonderful. Like a beautiful flower.” And yet as we get to know each other, I realize that you are only a weed in my “life garden.” Your roots are shallow. I can easily tear you out.
Some weeds are simple. “I do not believe you belong here, you have not contributed anything to the floral community so, I am sorry. I can not entertain your intrusion any longer.” Politics, gossip, celebrity news, your problems with your spouse, nonsense with your kids… keep it to yourself…” It is easy to block these from present thinking by occupying yourself with matters of more importance.
Some weeds are just stubborn. Like crabgrass! Crabgrass is good when it keeps my lawn green, but when you try to get rid of it, it gives a fight. Blades of green spread out as far as 16 inches in diameter and the roots are dug in deep. I do a little garden surgery with a steak knife. Stab the knife into the ground and hack away at the root until it gives. You now possess a clod of crabgrass. It has been subjugated. People get crabgrass thoughts. Maybe related to relationships or money or work. Such problems require tenacity and the commitment to do what it takes to resolve the matter. Please don’t use a steak knife on brain problems. Just use your faith and God-given sense.
Some weeds are attached to an underground network. Are you a member of an underground root network? If you are, you are drawn in by every mini-root that resonates with “the network.” Like my deceptive grapevine, you are sucked underground. In time, you are a lovely sprout reaching out from the vine. You cannot break free unless some kind gardener (such as myself) takes a clipper to you and ends your union with the mother root. THIS! is tough! THIS is a great personal confrontation. Reach out to your friends… This weed is deceptive.
Also, if you have a very complex problem on your mind, it may lead to many other headaches- liken it to the sprouts that emerge from the ground but are attached to the main root, the underground root. You can choose to keep snipping away at the new shoots or get a shovel (sometimes you need an ax!) and go directly to the root- which is your main problem. Don’t be shy! You will sleep better.
Some weeds are toxic. They infiltrate your brain in such a way that before long you are not thinking right. They begin to affect you outwardly. I had a bout with a sneaky poison ivy patch. It infected me and I was covered with a bitchy, itchy rash, and lesions for over a month. Toxic weeds, when they metaphorically live in your brain- things like trauma, empty childhood, abuse, sexual abuse, war experiences- are on almost constant replay. They result in external malignancies. Depression, anxiety, careless living, drug addiction, alcoholism, PTSD and the manifestations go on and on. Seek professional help. A doctor to whom you can talk and one who can prescribe medications, support groups, your family, and friends. They all see you suffer and want you to feel better.
Weeds are a part of life whether in the ground or in your brain. When you see a garden or you are hiking down a mountain path you will surely see weeds. May that be a reminder to identify and isolate your brain weeds and roots. Just as weeding a garden results in an orderly and pleasing result, so will weeding your brain. Your brain requires your daily attention. Remember- weeding is a way of life.
And set.
I enjoyed this analogy of weeds to the invasive thoughts in my brain. I’m reminded to let no root of bitterness spring up and cause trouble whereby others may be defiled. Hebrews 12:15.
BTW. What a joy to find those flowering plants. I love lilacs and rose of Sharon.