“Daddy, why do weeds grow faster than carrots?”
I was really struck by this question as my son and I worked together in the quiet of a beautiful evening in our garden.
Surely all plants are good in some way and have their place in the natural order. But nonetheless some are weeds. They do not belong here, at least now; they get in the way of the life that should be.
They seem to come out of nowhere. They sprout and they grow quickly. Almost without noticing, they are in the way, changing the life and growth of what really matters. Often the problem is their roots–they go deep and intertwine with and overwhelm the good roots.
But who am I to judge? Is it inappropriate and unfounded for me to condemn these plants?
This is a good question, and it raises large issues. I need to learn to see clearly if I am to judge well. Part of what I need to see is human reality, and our place in the cosmos. A garden is in many ways a little micro-cosmos, in which I can learn much about the way things are and the way they should be.
And how there are things in my life that are objectively weeds: things that feel so natural and quickly become part of the culture of my life; things that change my daily patterns for the worse.
Things that need to be rooted out, for the sake of the life that should be—a life that can be only if a space is cleared for it.
But why do weeds grow so fast? Is this somehow a cruel streak in reality or a design flaw, one that proves that what we consider ‘good’ is really just random or superimposed?
Perhaps rather that weeds grow so fast is part of the order. It trains the gardener to be alert and to watch—to see what really matters. Cultivating life is a project of constant vigilance: protecting, trimming, clearing a space.
Perhaps we need to discover how the ‘natural’—especially in human life—is not the ‘uncultivated.’ Rather, human nature is a cultivated and a cultivating thing.
Yes, Son, note well that weeds often grow faster than carrots. But that is alright. Let us attend to our rows. Life is not about speed. It is about care and cultivation of what is good, and about presence. And I am grateful to be here, with you.
Husband, father, and professor of Philosophy. LifeCraft springs from one conviction: there is an ancient wisdom about how to live the good life in our homes, with our families; and it is worth our time to hearken to it. Let’s rediscover it together. Learn more.
Dr. Cuddeback, what an excellent message to hear in a time of my life when I needed to hear it. I’ve enjoyed your philosophy lectures and courses at the ICC, thank you for being such a blessing.
Thank you for your kind words Matthew.
Thank you for this timely reminder to watch out for the weeds in my heart.
You are welcome, Diane. Weeds in the heart–something we can all think about!
Maybe the better question to ask is why the fruits of life grow more slowly.
Mike, Well said! Yes!
Um… Bare ground is bad for living things. Weeds come up to protect it!
Try putting down a seedless mulch instead of repeatedly disturbing the soil
Bobster, Thanks for the thought. Weeds certainly do help protect the soil–another reason to be grateful for them!
I agree on the mulch front–and I use it quite a bit. In my experience, nothing will do away with weeds altogether; they will remain part of gardening–at least in my garden!
Oxaloacetate.
Weeds have a purpose too and although there is great satisfaction in pulling them, they are often what squash plants hold onto as they move and grow and trail towards their potential to bear fruit.
Every time I pull weeds I think of lines from Richard II: “ ‘Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace:’
And since, methinks, I would not grow so fast,
Because sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste.”
Our garden overgrows with weeds in the blink of an eye. It’s impossible to keep up. Feels like the classic good vs. evil scenario. Just the way of the fallen world. It takes so very much to cultivate true good.
Long time reader, but this is my first comment I think. 🙂
This year I planted an abundance of a flower called alyssum in among my vegetables. It spread and flowered and drew the bees in, and where I planted it … there are no weeds! Your post made me reflect on how vice can’t flourish in the presence of its opposing virtue; that the virtue perhaps takes time to cultivate, but once it’s grown the vice is shaded out and has no more room …
So much for the garden to teach us!
(Although I will say that bindweed/morning glories manage to grow almost everywhere … viney nuisance that crawls up my tomatoes and through my herbs … I guess some vices are like that too!)
I think so too!
Amen, Rosemary! The wonderful insights by analogy multiply! Thank you.
Just read August 18 th’s: Weeds and Life.
“And I and am grateful to be here, with you”.
What a beautiful thankfulness of the gift of one,’s child,
and the gift of one’s own life,
and in gratitude of the Creator. What a peaceful light.