Last week, after returning from our extended family vacation, I found myself mowing a lawn that had clearly benefited from some good rain while we were away. The grass was lush, green… and long. There’s something satisfying about mowing the lawn after substantial growth—the smell of cut grass is delightful, and a fresh-cut lawn looks so nice. I’m sure my neighbors were happy too, as our lawn was the only one unmowed in the entire neighborhood and stuck out like a sore thumb.

The Benedict estate is about a third of an acre, and I suspect the previous owner had it professionally landscaped. There are little decorative gardens here and there, and mature trees throughout. It’s a beautiful and restful yard.

I try to keep everything in good order—mulching, pruning, and edging—because I enjoy the work. But there’s one little garden that I tend to neglect. It borders my neighbor’s yard and is a bit out of the way, so it’s the last thing I get to. If I’m short on mulch, that’s the garden I skip. This year, I didn’t edge, prune, or mulch it at all. Out of sight, out of mind.

As I mowed around it last week, I finally took a closer look. “Wow, that’s one healthy-looking shrub,” I thought. “I’ll need to prune that soon.” Branches were everywhere. But then I did a double take. I don’t remember that shrub having little purple flowers. It’s a boxwood. Something wasn’t right.

Upon closer examination, I realized that all the “growth” wasn’t growth at all—it was a vine that had nearly overgrown the bush. Pam has a plant identification app on her phone, and we discovered that the vine was “Bittersweet Nightshade.” A quick online search revealed that it’s an invasive plant that can irritate the skin, produces poisonous berries, and is nearly impossible to kill without herbicide. Gulp! Houston, we have a problem!

The next day, I put on gloves and went to work, yanking and pulling. I ended up with a huge pile of vines and discovered that the shrub, which I thought was thriving, was almost completely dead. I was shocked! I called Pam out to see the results. “Wow, There’s a lesson in this,” she observed.

I agree. Actually, I thought of several lessons in this story. Here are a few that come to mind. Which one applies to you?

The Danger of Neglect: My neglected garden reminds me of areas in our lives that we may overlook or disregard, thinking they’re unimportant or out of sight. That vine didn’t grow up overnight, and if I had been attentive, it wouldn’t have happened at all. Similarly, apathetic or untended faith can allow sin, bitterness, or harmful habits to grow unnoticed, eventually choking out spiritual vitality.

Hebrews 2:1 – “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”

Appearance vs. Reality: Just as my shrub appeared healthy and thriving but was actually being choked by an invasive vine, we too may outwardly appear spiritually healthy while being desolate and dying inside. True life transformation is possible only when we’re honest with the Lord and others. Pretending that you’re spiritually okay when you’re not might make you look good, but it doesn’t foster spiritual life.

James 5:16 – “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

The Invasiveness of Sin: That vine is like sin— it starts little but once it takes root, it’s difficult to eradicate. Sin may even look attractive, but it spreads subtly and, if left unchecked, will eventually destroy its host.

John 10:10 – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”

The Importance of Spiritual Maintenance: Spiritual maintenance, like pruning and tending a garden, is essential to prevent the invasion of harmful influences. But our Master Gardener loves us and will disrupt and dislodge unproductive things in our lives. It may be painful, but it’s necessary for our growth.

John 15:2 – “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

The Need for Awareness and Action: Due to my lack of attention, my boxwood shrub will likely never recover. Ignoring problems doesn’t make them go away; they only grow worse over time. The moment we recognize a problem is our call to action to proactively address issues in our lives.

Ephesians 5:15-16 – “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

The Value of God’s Wisdom and Guidance: Just as Pam’s app helped identify the invasive plant, we need God’s wisdom and guidance (through His Word and the Holy Spirit) to discern what is truly good and what is harmful in our lives.

James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

So, if you have some untended gardens in some unexplored corners of your yard, take a look.  You might be surprised at what you find. And if your soul is untended or neglected, I know a Master Gardener who has all of the resources and skill necessary to cause you to thrive again.  Now’s the time.  Are you willing?