My Weedeater Complex

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

I have a problem. Not a serious one, but I still think it's an issue. A character defect, perhaps.

I want to cut people's weeds.

Let me explain. Occasionally, I like to run around the neighborhood for a little exercise. Usually, it's more of a leisurely walk though if I'm being honest. As I walk/run (slowly) I tend to notice people's yards. Some are well-kept and manicured. Others are not. And the latter are the yards I have difficulty running past. My palms start to itch and my hands start to shake as I see their weeds towering into the sky. I wonder to myself, Would they mind if I took care of this for them? Would they even notice when they came home from work tonight?

You see, I received a weedeater for Christmas a few years ago and I love using that piece of machinery. There's something about the satisfaction of swinging it back and forth and watching the vegetation fall in front of me that gladdens my heart. I don't have a green thumb and I can't grow a thing, but I sure do enjoy chopping things down!

It's kind of an irrational urge. I don't have the same feeling whenever I encounter a leaky toilet or a dirty microwave or someone's vinyl siding that has cracks. It only occurs with weeds. It might be a chemical imbalance.

The Bible mentions weeds quite a bit ("They speak words, taking false oaths while making covenants. So lawsuits break out like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field."), but it never mentions someone having a weed complex and what to do when you discover you have one. I guess it's one of those gray areas open for interpretation.

So, if you ever come home and your weeds have seemingly spontaneously disappeared from your yard, you don't have to look far for the culprit or his weedeater.