What is a weed? In the following definition I have replaced the word plant with the word human. The result is truly horrifying.
weed: A human not valued for use or beauty, regarded as cumbering or hindering the growth of superior humans… An unprofitable, troublesome, or noxious growth.
Human control is important on earth. Methods include hand cultivation with guns, powered cultivation with armaments, smothering economically, lethal discrimination by the media, bombing, or chemical attack with poisons.
Are humans like weeds in a garden? We label plants and humans when they don’t serve our purpose. Our inability to perceive the value in a plant or human does not mean that individual has no value. Should we toss certain people aside based on our bias and judgment?
Contrast this approach to gardening with that of St. Theresa of Avila.
Beginners must realize that in order to give delight to the Lord they are starting to cultivate a garden on very barren soil, full of abominable weeds. His Majesty pulls up the weeds and plants good seed. Now let us keep in mind that all of this is already done by the time a soul is determined to practice prayer and has begun to make use of it. And with the help of God we must strive like good gardeners to get these plants to grow and take pains to water them so that they don’t wither but come to bud and flower and give forth a most pleasant fragrance to provide refreshment for this Lord of ours. Then He will often come to take delight in this garden and find His joy among these virtues.
Some people truly are trouble makers and cannot be allowed to continue to harm themselves and others. They must be separated but not tossed into the compost, or worse, the garbage.
Humans are not weeds in the garden, or mice to be exterminated. I offer no external solution. My wish is that the reader will look within, to the inner garden, to clear blocks to receptivity. We must not struggle to pull the weeds. That is not our job. Our work is to be receptive and to cultivate what is beautiful. One cannot always foresee how a person will grow. The fact that a plant or human exists is enough evidence of their worthiness.
“The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila”, Second ed., Kavanaugh, Kiernan, and Olilio Rodriguez, translators. Washington, DC, ICS Publications Institute of Carmelite Studies, 1987.
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