Fearless Faith

It is that time of year when certain invasive weeds betray themselves upon blooming. One such species is the nodding thistle, or musk thistle. A combination of rain and warmer weather has encouraged the biennial to shoot up above the summer grasses in open defiance of clean pastures everywhere.

This is no timid interloper. It is hard to uproot or cut off by hand and a single plant can produce tens of thousands of seeds annually. Its seeds can also remain viable for a dozen years or more. The best practice for small areas of affected pasture is mechanical control, cutting off the blooms and seed heads, bagging them up, and disposing of them in the trash. It is well that they grow so quickly and have such a colorful bloom. If they were ground creepers we’d be in serious trouble.

In spite of the scourge they have come to represent, nodding thistles can also be found various places online under native plant propagation. What a challenge. How do we admire a plant that has shown itself to be relentlessly opportunistic? The blooms are noteworthy and striking. A close inspection reveals wonder in their deep purple finery, and the bracts on the back side of the floret are a study in geometric design.

Thistle aesthetics aside, there remains a need to be diligent in locating plants and disrupting their growth cycle. Even cursory inspections of pastures quickly reveal where concerns lie. Anyone who has faced an infestation of these colorfully bloomed intruders would never consider it a waste of time to return to their location with a spade and bucket.

There are certain noxious elements in the church than similarly challenge the health of congregations. These elements might appear appropriate, a “missional fit,” but over time their toxic nature can become evident. The challenge is keeping them in perspective and dealing with concerns when they are small. Hint: if a sea of purple awaits you as you step out your door each day, think twice what it might take to mitigate the concerns that represents.

As church members we have a high calling to deal appropriately with one another though we disagree from time to time. What examples will we set for others to observe? How shall we be known? What we do matters. How we do it matters even more. To use church as a platform for promoting irresponsible theological and political nonsense is a disservice and an abdication of our faith. What are your limits? Where are your growing edges? Who shall we invite to walk with us?

The hypocrisy of the church is often named as a critical factor in explaining declining church participation. The arguments set aside hypocrisies already present in society. We are learning, albeit slowly, how to manage such challenges. What an amazing opportunity for churches to live into their faith rather than complain about that of others. One key is to work within the faith community you have chosen to be part of and to never be content with the status quo.

Beauty surrounds us, even in the bothersome nodding thistle. It’s all part of the package that keeps our life and faith vibrant. As A.A. Milne observed, “Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.”