Those weeds!

Even in the most cultivated and beautiful field of lavender, the weeds can be spotted.  I have recently become part of the Freuchie in Flower group in the village, striving to make the village a place of beauty. A large part of the work is about maintaining the many floral barrels and areas of flowers. 

So every time I am out walking I am now looking at flower tubs and deadheading and pulling out weeds.  They get everywhere.  But yesterday along the edge of the road was a wonderful sight of yellow, no not daffodils but dandelions. Anywhere else they might have been weeds but here they were just right. 

If you ever work on a flower or a vegetable patch you will be aware of the constant battle to keep weeds out of them. I notice a few of those dandelions popping up in one of my lawns.

Can you imagine what it would be like to be working on an artwork and every time you left it when you returned there were patches of dark brown paint where it was not supposed to be?

 There is a tale from ancient times about one of the gods who became a bit of a bad apple, a weed. His punishment was to be thrown back to earth to suffer the misfortunes of being human.

When we see those less fortunate than ourselves, whether they are homeless on the streets or simply dirty, ugly or unpopular, can we ever be sure that they are not like that god of old flung back to this mad planet?

I often found myself and still find myself asking if their misfortune is their own fault? Or do I do as I have seen others do, explain their misfortune to morality, destiny, reincarnation or cosmic justice? I have heard each and all of those explanations. Even the words of saints offer no relief for their suffering, so it is hardly fair to blame them.

Let us not hold ourselves above our fellow human beings no matter how great their disparity.

At this stage, I have to confess that my regular purchase of the big issue, a paper sold to help the homeless, has stopped since the day I watched a large car travel along a city street picking up those selling and dropping off the ones to take their place. It seems that even peoples blight can be abused by those with less than moral intent.

But we must never judge all by the actions of a few. To withhold scorn for those in difficulty is the start of beautiful.

To see how we are all part of the one human race is the start of compassion. or as the well known Scottish bard said, "We are awe Gods weans."

Or to paraphrase him, "No matter how far we have fallen. A Mans a man for all that."

We most surely live in difficult times and many are in dire need and often and mostly through no fault of their own. Ask those giving out food parcels at the multiplying foodbanks.

Have a thoughtful and meaningful day.