“Do not love the world or anything in the
world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For
everything in the world-lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride
of life-comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires
pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:15-17
NIV).
Most of
the time when I’m traveling the interstate, the trees to the left and the right
are nothing more than a boring blur of various shades of green and brown. This
time was different; I was taken by the uniqueness of each and every tree that
gracefully lined both sides of the road. The varieties included: young and old
trees, small and large with varied shaped leaves in an array of greens, and
uniquely sculptured bark in a range of gray and brown hues.
As I drove further, I lost sight of all the
details I had earlier appreciated because the kudzu vine now consumed the
trees. Kudzu vine grows as much as a foot a day and can kill plants and trees
by blocking sunlight or strangling and breaking branches. It has even been
known to uproot entire trees through the sheer weight. I started thinking how
the trees reminded me of people. We too, come in different shapes, sizes and
colors. Similarly, the kudzu vine is like our love of the world, slowly
meandering its way until we are consumed by its sheer weight.
Most
days, I start by reading the Bible or some type of devotional with the intent
to be a disciple for Christ. In no time, I find myself having to pull away the
vines of the world realizing that I’ve been entrapped: spending money on
frivolous items, speaking badly about someone, showing indifference to a needy
family member or being just too busy to befriend someone who is lonely. The
world can cast a shadow on the truth and uproot us from staying focused on our
real purpose.
I admire
and respect the life of those who actually shake off the world, such as Brother
Lawrence, a French Monk in the 17th century. He developed a
technique of a continual practice of mindful meditation. In his reflections of
God’s presence, he says, “Let us think often that our only business in this
life is to please God. Perhaps all besides is but folly and vanity.” * May we,
too, avoid the engrossing and devouring vines of this world by keeping our
minds and lives Christ-centered.
*“Brother
Lawrence Quotes.” O’Christian.com,
n.d. Web. 20 May 2012.
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I have just come across this whilst looking for something quite different, I did a project at uni which involved research about Kudzu vine, I've never seen it in the flesh but it does look very creepy. I think this is a great insight, and will stick with me, thank you.
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