Today, I had one of those exciting days. Not out with friends, not holding my lovers hand, nor having a bubble bath. I was doing the deadly duty of ripping out two months of over grown weeds in my yard. That’s what I get for leaving the country for a few months. I am not here to complain about it. I actually had a lot of fun and got a good work out in for free! Bonus!
As I stared down some monster weeds. I am talking about the ones that are taller than I am. Heck some of them looked like they had grown arms. I started to think why do we have weeds anyways. I had nothing come to mind. Well except, so I can cuss and yell. So I can take out my frustrations on these innocent creepers. Though they are relentless, you might find it amazing how tenacious they are!
Actually, by definition, any plant that is a nuisance is a weed. I finally, after many hours made peace with my weeds even had a respect for their strength. Heck, could I have the courage to grow so tall and be so strong in a place where few welcomed me?
I think they came to mean something more to me today.
In France, there is an expression, ” The bad herb always push up faster.” Isn’t that the truth; Our own nuisances tend to become bigger in our minds, even can twist and turn all vibrancy out of a day, year or even a moment. These nuisances are of our own making. Our perceptions, our judgements, and criticisms. They can rob us of fertile soil and the appreciation in a moment. Maybe, we have a choice to make peace with our own weeds too. Like the weeds – they push up… and we can gentle appreciate them and let them go.
I did that with all the weeds today. Nature has a way of teaching us so much.
Feel free to share your stories from nature.
Shunryu Suzuki, the Zen master, is credited with proclaiming,
“For Zen students, a weed is a treasure.”
Lorraine Rey 