Time to Move – When the Neighbor Goes Green

Ed, my neighbor next door, has decided that I’m even weirder than he thought. The other day, I was spraying dandelions in my lawn and Ed saw the Roundup spray bottle in my hand.

“That Roundup will kill your lawn as well as the dandelions,” Ed yelled from the fence.

“I know,” I answered, “this really isn’t Roundup. I’m using a homemade weed killer in the Roundup bottle. If it works, the grass will be safe and the dandelions dead. I’m trying to keep from using a commercial herbicide.”

“Does your homemade stuff really work?” Ed asked with skepticism.

“So far I’m finding it about equal to the store-bought spray, but time will tell. I haven’t used it long enough to decide how good it is,” I said.

“What’s in it? All I can smell is pickles.” Ed questioned.

“You’re close. The spray is made of apple cider vinegar, table salt and a dash of Dawn dish detergent,” I told him.

“What are you going to do, cover the dandelions in mayonnaise if the vinegar doesn’t work?” Ed asked sarcastically.

“I’ll cross that bridge when I have to,” I said.

The pressure is on now, as Ed will be studying my lawn for dandelions to have evidence that my homemade spray is a failure. At least I know that if it works, Ed will never mention it again. He likes to talk about my failures, not my successes.

It seems to be part of our human nature to watch for evidence that others are wrong rather than right. New ideas are often met with an attitude of skepticism and rejection. Some people are determined that there is only one way to do what needs to be done and it is their way alone.

How many times have we been guilty of saying that something is silly or that it will never work? I know if Ed had said my homemade weed spray would probably work, I would have fainted. Some folks in life will always be your loyal opposition, determined that you are a weak link in the human chain.

The great thing about our God is that He is our loyal supporter, rather than our biggest critic. Our God gives us positive feedback from His loving and forgiving nature. God is the best and thinks in terms of great acceptance and potential success for us. Jesus was amazed while on earth, for in spite of his miracles, few had the attitude that he could do anything. They saw him as limited in ability, like themselves. They couldn’t accept his authority as the son of God among them.

In the Bible, a Roman centurion’s slave was sick and about to die. As Jesus went toward the centurion’s house, the centurion sent word to Jesus that he understood Jesus’ authority. As a centurion, having soldiers under his command, he told Jesus to just say the word and his servant would be healed. That was how the sick slave was healed. Jesus was amazed at the centurion’s belief which was without reservation in his power and authority. We need to be like the centurion, certain of God’s power in Jesus for us. (Homemade Weed Killer Recipe: ½ gal. apple cider vinegar; ¼ cup table salt; ½ teaspoon Dawn; use as a spray)

 

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