Weeds & Vices

I was among a number of volunteers who attended my place of employment on Saturday morning to do some gardening. Why do weeds grow so well even in poor soil? They flourish and blossom without any human help, flowering and seeding with an expertise and efficiency that our more refined plants cannot match. I have grown seedlings at home with the utmost care, the finest composts and plenty of gentle waterings, and some have still wilted and died. But dandelions, docks, sticky weed and ragwort would seemingly prosper on Mars. 

Well for this we can thank Father Adam and Mother Eve. Although weeds are not without their beauty and usefulness, we need to actively grow our food and tend to our crops. Similarly, my vices grow and multiply with little encouragement, but virtue must be carefully cultivated, nourished and protected. The Apostle exhorts the Philippians:

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (4:8)