Give a weed an inch, and it will take a “yard.” Consequently, weeding is vital, but not easy, for at times it’s difficult to distinguish between the desired plant and the weed. Pull both up, and the distinction, however, becomes obvious in their roots. (To paraphrase Scripture, by their roots you shall know them.)  Weeds have only a main taproot, which lets them grow quickly. Flowers, trees, and vegetables, on the other hand, have a more complicated root system, that slows the growth, permitting more time for the plants to develop durability and beauty.

When we look back over the years, it may seem that our spiritual life grows slowly. Perhaps the slow growth may be God’s way of giving us sturdy rootedness in the divine.