According to Siri, California drought conditions started in 2000. I’m not sure I agree with her because I remember intermittent wet years that were not that long ago and wearing goloshes to muck around in our flooded backyard. I remember joyous frog song in the growing pond behind our fence and muddy dog prints on our carpet. Then the dry spells came and the level of water in the reservoirs dropped to shocking lows, bringing water use restrictions. This wet winter replenished our water supply, filling those reservoirs high enough for houseboats, boats, and water skiers – and overflowing. Now, oh my, there is God-green everywhere! It’s that special color you only see after a good rain, not the green you get from a hose, sprinkler system or irrigation.
God-green brings the flowers spreading across hillsides and drawing hundreds of people from near and far to see the super-blooms around the state. God is in His glory, generously splashing gold, pink, red, blue, purple on the hills. He is the first and still the best artist in the universe.
Our backyard has come to life. I’m reminded of the time I spent writing Leota’s Garden. I loved every minute of working with Annie restoring Leota’s backyard garden. That’s the wonderful thing about writing fiction. I can have a green thumb! I can plant anything, and it will thrive. In real life, I have a short list of successes. Daffodils (until the squirrels dig them up), sunflowers (until a critter eats the buds and leaves the tall stalk). I’m great at leaving a “volunteer” that popped up unexpectedly and turned into something gorgeous. Like a bird planted cherry laurel that is now six feet tall.
Weeds pop up, too, lots and lots of weeds. A good reminder to do self-examination and pull out the weeds in my life. If I slack off and stay inside for three or four days, a walk around the yard shows the cost of my neglect. Some weeds are shallow rooted and easily plucked out. Others, like dandelions, have deep roots. Pulling the green leaves doesn’t remove the weed. You must go deep and work to get that weed out.
Our younger son, Travis, knows I love to weed. (I know I’m weird. What can I say?) He gave me a “Grandpa’s Weeder.” I can fit it over a dandelion, press down, pull back and hurrah! Out comes the dandelion, root, and all!
If only life was that easy. Dandelions, like sins, when left to grow, will bloom, go to seed, and blow all over the good, green grass. We must be diligent. Read the Scriptures and when we recognize sin in our lives, don’t wait. Pull it out.