Beauty in the Weeds

      
     This weekend I participated in the Panther Prowl 5K sponsored by one of our local high schools to support our Special Olympic athletes for their upcoming state competition. Great event and an amazing group of educators lifting up our student athletes. Go Olympians!! The course for this particular race was more of a cross country run set at Panther Creek State Park, hence the name Panther Prowl. For those of you that run on a regular basis this may be an understatement, but road running and trail running are two different beasts. Obviously, you have to be alert to traffic and potential potholes or breaks in concrete, but on a trail run the obstacles are all part of the run. Roots, rocks, washed out areas, and uphill/downhill jaunts make cross country runs so much more challenging.
     Another distinction between these two different types of running events is the scenery surrounding you. In most cases road races are marked with cityscapes of buildings, cars, and the road. Not that there aren't things to admire, but trail running provides a constant deluge of nature's beauty at its finest. That brings me to today's Flat Tire Ministries thought for the week. As I was running a stretch of the trail that was straight enough and flat enough to allow me to look around for a minute, my eyes caught a glimpse of a plant that had the deepest red purple stem. Nothing else remarkably beautiful about the plant, but that stem stood out in the midst of all of the wildflowers and ferns growing under the canopy of trees the woods provided. That made me start looking around even more to see what else I might be missing. What I found was that many times on nature walks, or runs in this case, we are looking for that magnificent wildflower that sets off the area with bright and vibrant colors. Many times, we see the weeds that are growing around the same area as a nuisance, a hindrance to the beauty of the wildflowers, but on this run I was able to see the beauty of the whole creation. The "weeds" partnered with the wildflowers to make the scene complete. If that same weed popped up in our manicured lawns we would pluck it out of the ground so quick because we wouldn't want it to mess up our beautiful green carpet. Yet, on the other hand, in nature that same weed compliments the flowers, plants, and other foliage. Without each part nature would not be as beautiful or complete. Sadly, we do the same with those that we might label "weeds" in our own lives.
      In education the portrayed, perfect vision is one of walking into a classroom and just like our lawns everyone is in their place, neat rows, books open, and hands crossed with eyes locked on the teacher. That is the image of a perfect lawn in the classroom. In reality, most classrooms I have ever been a part of are more like the forested area I ran at Panther Creek Park. Students come into our classrooms with complex and myriad issues each day. Special needs, economic challenges, disrupted family settings, and other learning challenges, in the manicured classroom would be called the weeds by some. Pluck anyone out of the room that doesn't fit perfectly into what is viewed as the "normal" child and I could do so much with my class is the view of the jaded educator. We have to remember just as the weed, everyone has a role to play, everyone is beautiful in their own way, and in the right setting everyone has a contribution to make to the classroom and also in society.
     Success, beauty, is a varied plant. It will look differently to each of us, and it’s true beauty can only be found in an area where it is appreciated and fulfills its purpose. In life, we must find that role for each person. There are no weeds in this life, there are only plants that need to find their purpose and then be appreciated for what beauty they provide. Too many times we make those that don't fit into the perfect mold of what society says is acceptable feel like they don't fit in, they don't belong and we want them plucked out of our flowerbed. In nature, the flowerbed is dependent on all of the plants to produce the beauty of the forest. It is our responsibility to assure everyone finds the place they fit instead of forcing them to fit into confines of our lawns.
       I Peter 3:3-4 tells us that, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." Keep this in mind as we go about our day walking about and doing life. We should all be looking beyond the outward appearance of someone and spend more time finding out about what is inside a person's heart. The flowers are beautiful to look at, but in nature the "weeds" are what make the scene complete! 
 Coach Carter