This blog has been pestering me- LITERALLY! Somehow in writing it there must be a key to deliverance for myself and even someone else. I have a gnat problem. How bad? I killed two while writing the second sentence of this blog- not because I was looking for them but because they came to interfere with my typing! For longer than I care to say I have suffered with them. Now, mind you I have always known their source. Take note.
1) I noticed that my two plants stopped growing. They just started surviving.
Plant A began so vigorously. Back in those days I kept it on my table. I thought surely it would take over the table with its zeal. Once I moved it to the kitchen, it began to shrink back. Finally, when I moved it to the sliding glass door it began to recede and yellow.
Plant B suffered an accident. However I tenderly loved it, and maybe even prayed over it a few times. The result? It survived the accident, but it stopped growing. And every once and awhile, a leaf withers and turns yellow.
Unfortunately these very obvious outward signs of degeneration did not cause me alarm. Concern yes, but I have continued about by life for months!
2) I noticed that on my peaceful days of being home, gnat after gnat would harass me. How annoying?! I had no peace. While I was trying to relax, or study, ZOOM! Right past my face or towards my eye a gnat would sail. If I was at the computer, it was not unusual to hear the sound of ::clap:: as I brought one after one to its demise. If only I could kill this 1, it would be ok.
3) One day I decided to confirm my suspicions, and sure enough there was a mini swarm around my plants. Upon further inspection, the soil of the plants was teaming with gnats as well. It was clear that there was an infestation. Instead of permanent extermination methods, I sought a quick fix, some Off leftover from a few mission trips ago. Sure enough a few quick sprays eliminated the flying activity and would bring me a few days of relief.
4) However, the relief was not permanent. Bug spray. Vacations on the balcony, even in the cold, did not rid my plants of their root infestation. Finally, I decided to diagnose the cause instead of suffering the constant gnat annoyance. It didn't take long to discover that my problem was not uncommon. They are fungus gnats, and more than annoying me, their babies are eating the roots of my plants! The article gave several solutions. A few I couldn't afford right then, so I kept suffering.
5) Eventually, I came back to the article desperate for relief! It seemed that whenever I was grasping something from God or approaching high productivity in my studies, :: ZOOOM::! More and more they seemed to fit the pattern of spiritual distraction. "God say what?" ::ZOOM:: ::CLAP:: "No, really God I forgot, say it again!" The article suggested a few natural traps. One is particularly successful in catching the offenders! But my plants still suffer and ::zoom:: ::clap:: are still common occurrences.
I need a cure. I have known what must be done. The plants have to be removed from their old environment. They have to be given soil that is not infested. And their new soil has to be treated so that eggs, seeds of a future generation, will not be laid. It's going to cost, but there will be relief. More importantly, my plants will grow again.
God is so merciful that He lets it annoy us. He causes our attention to be captured, even when spiritual malnutrition and lack of growth pass over our radar. What's annoying you? What's the pesky presence in your life? Is it feeding at your roots? Do what's necessary for deliverance. Relief is not sufficient.
Comments
Post a Comment