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Weeding my Garden, my Books, and my Life

August 17, 2010 By Jean Wise

Our hot tub disappeared. My perennials conquered that corner of the garden and swallowed up the path leading to our spa. I think some thinning out of my garden is long past due. I have some friends who want starts from my backyard, so it’s time to share some flowers.
I love books and books pack my shelves. We are remodeling all of our bedrooms and I am moving my office into a smaller room. One less bookshelf mandates fewer books. Time for thinning out those that I haven’t or don’t think will use. My local library that sells used books to support the Friends of the Library projects will soon have a large donation from me.
My flowers are beautiful and my books are rich resources, but both have strayed from their boundaries. Time to thin them out and pass them on.
Over the past month I have caught myself overflowing with negative self-talk. Useless, self-defeating habits moved in to push out my exercise routine and eating healthier. The noise of a busy day dominates my quiet time with God.  I guess my life needs some weeding too.
But I just don’t want to throw out and be destructive; I want to cultivate and grow in the right direction.
Cultivate the quality of the flowers in my backyard, not let them multiply unheeded.
Cultivate my reading – not just to have in my possession books, but to read them deeply.
Cultivate my life – plucking out the bad habits, uprooting the time wasters, and planting healthy habits that nurture my body and my spirit.
A person’s character and their garden both reflect the amount of weeding that was done during the growing season
-  Author Unknown
What needs thinning out and weeded from your life?

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Filed Under: spiritual lessons

Comments

  1. blankJean Wise says

    August 19, 2010 at 2:43 pm

    I am now considering I used the wrong word – weeding, I wonder if I should have emphasized “thinning out” more. There is so much good in life that just escapes its boundaries and becomes excessive.

  2. blankClella says

    August 19, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    Well now you are talking to me again. I’m making it a goal (what a hard word for me) to do a little weeding every day in my thinking. thanks Clella

  3. blankDuane Scott says

    August 19, 2010 at 6:18 am

    I detest weeding. I wonder if I put it off too much in my spiritual life too. Thanks for this!

  4. blankJean Wise says

    August 18, 2010 at 1:10 am

    Thanks for all the comments. I was thinking today about the black eyed susans that took over the hot tub area – really they are a good thing that just needed to be reduced and kept within a boundary. I think social media is like that……

  5. blankKath Williamson says

    August 17, 2010 at 6:59 pm

    Lovely analogy. And the weeds never stop growing, do they?
    🙂

  6. blankKristen says

    August 17, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    You’re so right…it’s often that it isn’t just physical “stuff” that needs removing. Awesome post!

  7. blankPeggy says

    August 17, 2010 at 4:38 pm

    So true! Sometimes those weeds have long roots!
    Stopping by from Tweet Me Tuesday
    PegsPlay
    matternu@gmail.com

  8. blankMelinda says

    August 17, 2010 at 3:57 pm

    I can relate … trying to weed out distractions like too much social media! It can be sure a time waster. I’m doing a great Bible Study called Me, Myself and Lies about remaking our thought processes. Really good stuff. Something we all need to be aware of all the time and ask for God’s help with. We CAN’T do it without Him!

    Tweeting this for TMT!

  9. blankRebecca Ramsey says

    August 17, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    Love the analogy of weeding. I did some physical weeding this weekend and it felt so good.
    You’ve got me thinking about what inner weeding might need to be done. Thank you!

  10. blankKaye - SandwichINK for the Sandwich Generation says

    August 17, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    Great points! Right now, I need to cultivate my clutter in my office – while still keeping up with my work load. 🙂 So I’m trying to do it one or two things at a time. Thanks for the great encouragement. 🙂

  11. blankMichelle says

    August 17, 2010 at 1:40 pm

    Ah, could do a little weeding around here too. Well said-

Healthy Spirituality – a sacred space to nurture your faith, grow closer to God, and belong to a community, walking together on life’s journey. This blog is written by author, speaker and retreat leader Jean Wise

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