There once was a farmer who had an immaculate garden. Of course, someone spiteful noticed and threw out some seeds that would produce some foul weeds.
In the garden each plant was given stewardship over its surrounding environment. They were please to be trusted with such a great and wonderful responsibility. They each had an individual personality and could communicate with one another and the farmer. They would blossom and smile brightly at him as he passed. Some would even sway for him and giggle just when he came near. However, as the weeds grew they did not know how best to respond to them. Some refused to look at them and pretended like they weren't even there. Others would FOCUS all their attention on them. So much so.. they wouldn't even notice any more when the farmer would pass.
Also, there were some that would notice the weeds and decided there would have to be a plan of action to be rid of them. But what was the action?
They observed the weeds and noticed that when they would bloom it would make their eyes burn. To these the solution was clear. Just pull the flowers off when they bloom, simple. Many set out the task of doing just that. Over time.. they were pulling flower after flower after flower.. constantly busy.. constantly watching for the blooms. This activity consumed their time and attention. Another set of plants criticized the flower snippers vain efforts and decided they had a better plan.
They decided that toiling over snipping the burning flowers that came back over and over again was an exercise of futility and required very little faith. They took the time to ponder the problem and decided the ROOT of the weed MUST be addressed. This set of plants began pulling on the weeds by the base.. and had much success at pulling them by the roots. Although this would take considerably more time and effort they continued and persisted. Some were so determined that they would not allow the flower snippers around because, to them, to snip the flower meant you did not truly believe that the root would EVER come out. The process was slow but worth the process. However, the first set of plants fussed at the root pullers because their eyes burned and the weed was taking too long to die and the burning flowers wouldn't go until the weed died!
Over time.. yet another set of plants began to notice something. The flowers were continuing to bloom AS the roots were being pulled. Since the focus was solely on the root the flowers persisted in development and multiplication. As the roots were being addressed the blossom would omit the burning fragrance and the pollen of the flowers began producing MORE weeds! What a nightmare! In the time it took to address ONE root.. 2 NEW strands of burning weeds began growing as they were being allowed to cross pollinate. The Hybrids were called (fear and doubt).
Wisdom had compassion on the plants and came over to them as a gentle breeze:
She whispered, "Combine efforts"
The plants that were able to hear realized that as the root was being addressed by the root pullers.. the flower snippers could come to destroy the flowers. In order to effectively take stewardship over their surroundings, the plants had to address things from root to tip simultaneously.
When it comes to sickness, this simultaneous approach is most effective. To take a medicine and address the physical symptom (the burning flowers), snipping away at what could be a distraction or what could produce fear and doubt; while at the same time going after the root and source of the illness in the spirit with prayer and the blood of Jesus. When done with balance.. you will find what is addressed at the root will flow in to the physical and what is addressed in the physical will give you freedom to go after the source.
They work together well, if allowed.
In the garden each plant was given stewardship over its surrounding environment. They were please to be trusted with such a great and wonderful responsibility. They each had an individual personality and could communicate with one another and the farmer. They would blossom and smile brightly at him as he passed. Some would even sway for him and giggle just when he came near. However, as the weeds grew they did not know how best to respond to them. Some refused to look at them and pretended like they weren't even there. Others would FOCUS all their attention on them. So much so.. they wouldn't even notice any more when the farmer would pass.
Also, there were some that would notice the weeds and decided there would have to be a plan of action to be rid of them. But what was the action?
They observed the weeds and noticed that when they would bloom it would make their eyes burn. To these the solution was clear. Just pull the flowers off when they bloom, simple. Many set out the task of doing just that. Over time.. they were pulling flower after flower after flower.. constantly busy.. constantly watching for the blooms. This activity consumed their time and attention. Another set of plants criticized the flower snippers vain efforts and decided they had a better plan.
They decided that toiling over snipping the burning flowers that came back over and over again was an exercise of futility and required very little faith. They took the time to ponder the problem and decided the ROOT of the weed MUST be addressed. This set of plants began pulling on the weeds by the base.. and had much success at pulling them by the roots. Although this would take considerably more time and effort they continued and persisted. Some were so determined that they would not allow the flower snippers around because, to them, to snip the flower meant you did not truly believe that the root would EVER come out. The process was slow but worth the process. However, the first set of plants fussed at the root pullers because their eyes burned and the weed was taking too long to die and the burning flowers wouldn't go until the weed died!
Over time.. yet another set of plants began to notice something. The flowers were continuing to bloom AS the roots were being pulled. Since the focus was solely on the root the flowers persisted in development and multiplication. As the roots were being addressed the blossom would omit the burning fragrance and the pollen of the flowers began producing MORE weeds! What a nightmare! In the time it took to address ONE root.. 2 NEW strands of burning weeds began growing as they were being allowed to cross pollinate. The Hybrids were called (fear and doubt).
Wisdom had compassion on the plants and came over to them as a gentle breeze:
She whispered, "Combine efforts"
The plants that were able to hear realized that as the root was being addressed by the root pullers.. the flower snippers could come to destroy the flowers. In order to effectively take stewardship over their surroundings, the plants had to address things from root to tip simultaneously.
When it comes to sickness, this simultaneous approach is most effective. To take a medicine and address the physical symptom (the burning flowers), snipping away at what could be a distraction or what could produce fear and doubt; while at the same time going after the root and source of the illness in the spirit with prayer and the blood of Jesus. When done with balance.. you will find what is addressed at the root will flow in to the physical and what is addressed in the physical will give you freedom to go after the source.
They work together well, if allowed.
Comments