Greetings from the Rector

Have you noticed the ripening fields of corn and soybeans along the roadways as you are travelling? These fields of last year inspired me to plant a few vegetables among the many beautiful flowers and shrubs where I live. Every zone and patch of land has its own microclimate that determines what will thrive there, and it is a grand experiment.

While my garden “harvest” is miniscule, I have rejoiced in their presence and grown in the ability to identify vegetables by their leaves of varying colors and shapes, even while being eaten alive by tiny mosquitoes.

But there is one surprise plant that has wildly exceeded my expectations that I didn’t even plant. First the leaves came, then the woody stalk grew, reaching several feet in height. Finally, clusters of deep reddish-purple berries appeared. I dreamed of what I could do with such a gorgeous plant. When describing it to a member of our congregation, I asked if they knew what it was. It was poke weed, an invasive plant that is highly poisonous to humans, dogs, and cats, but safe for birds. For safety’s sake, it had to go.

2 Peter 3:18 encourages us to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Even as we tend our outdoor gardens, let us tend to the garden of our hearts. Let us continue to grow to be more Christ-like in what we say and do. Let us pull out the weeds and roots of bitterness that take up space where more fruitful things like love, joy, peace and patience could take root. We might even need to ask someone we trust for their loving care and gentle wisdom to help us identify what might look beautiful but is harmful to us and those around us.

It has taking a lot of work to get poke weed out. Had I known what it was sooner, I could have addressed it sooner. And so, it is with tending our hearts. Together, let’s tend our interior gardens that the love and light of Christ may flourish and nourish all those we encounter.

Thanks be to God.

Mother Andrea