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Weeding is a source of spiritual lessons for me. Weeds compete for water and nutrients and take energy from the gardener’s focus on the main plant, lessening what the desired plant has to survive and, we hope, flourish.
As in our gardens, we all have weeds in our lives: unhealthy patterns and distractions that are taking time and energy from what helps us thrive. Through practices of prayer, meditation, and self-examination, we can distinguish these weeds from what we’re trying to cultivate.
At times, these weeds have established deep roots. One day, I had to get out a shovel and dig down deep to pull weeds that had established tap roots far into the soil. I thought about my discipleship practice of striving to be anti-racist. If I do my part to uproot racism, my ability to act in solidarity with all people can grow stronger.
The weeds in our life are competing for our energy, distracting us from core calling: to bear fruit for God’s kingdom. The more we clear away the weeds, the more we can thrive and help others around us to flourish as well.
This message is excerpted from “The spiritual life of gardening” by Celeste Kennel-Shank in the June 2025 Café online magazine. Today we commemorate The Martyrs of Uganda, 1886, and John XXIII, Bishop of Rome, 1963.