Beware of Slugs

July 17th, 2008

Recently Heather and I planted out lots of bedding plants in the garden. Learning from past experience, we also sprinkled them liberally with slug pellets. However, we were still alarmed to discover the next morning that there had been an invasion of the slimy creatures munching away at the tender plants.

I read this week that gardeners have been warned to expect an epidemic of slugs because of the wet and mild spring weather. There could be four times the usual number, each with the ability to double its weight in plants each day. The fruit of weeks of careful nurturing can be lost in a day.

New growth beware! Slugs of doubt, fear, ridicule and apathy can crawl all over you and devour new shoots, robbing you of your intended beauty. The cares of this world, the increase in petrol prices, the cost of the weekly shop, and the demand to work more hours, munch relentlessly away. The deceitfulness of wealth, the pursuit of selfish satisfaction in Life, Sky rental, holiday requirements, the need to acquire the latest gadget, home improvements, or just time spent on leisure activities, TV or Facebook can all act as slugs, happily chopping through our spiritual lives.  Beware of slugs!

As I look out on our garden at home, and the garden of the Church, I see new plants, but I also see the work of slugs. However, I am hopeful that with a bit of TLC, the young plants, the more established ones, and those in their prime, will fight off the slug invasion, and will grow and blossom into a riot of beauty and colour, bringing pleasure to many.                             

David Thatcher
 
  

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