CREEPING JENNY

In 1890, 100 starlings were let loose in America, gift of a someone who had no idea the trouble they'd cause. Today millions of these nasty black birds move in flocks around our nation with their loud raspy noise, leaving behind caustic droppings and a big mess. Nearly impossible to eliminate, they were better left in Europe where they came from.

In the early 1800's a flowering perennial was introduced from Asia and quickly went wild. This aggressive weed (convolvulus arvensis) is commonly called field bindweed, creeping jenny or charley, wild morning glory (and other names), and is nearly impossible to kill. It entwines itself around itself or other plants, seeking new places to root more plants and has earned 85 names in 29 languages, none of them kind.

Bindweed has an extensive deep network of roots and underground stems and continually tries to start new plants. Robbing water from other plants, in one season it will smother a garden or lawn if given the chance. It is impossible to stop by pulling it out, and though chemicals may kill it for a season, it will reseed itself the next year.

I once found bindweed growing inside a church! A tiny yellow plant had wound its way through a crack in the concrete floor and was growing inside the heat register. Tangled and sickly, it measured over three feet, and was doing all it could to survive in that unnatural place.

Though it may not be eliminated, the good news is that bindweed can be managed if you are patient and persistent. There are no quick-fixes for this pernicious nuisance, but it can be stopped. (Starlings, however, have yet to find their match.) Bindweed shouldn't be here, but once present, it never leaves. Because it is so persistent, some peole just give up and admire its small white flowers.

Bindweed is the closest equal to human sin I can think of. We weren't destined to have it, but once introduced into the world, it remained here forever. The fall into sin was permanent and unchecked individual sins will choke the life out of all that is good. How often do we try to stop doing this or that sin, and yet it comes back? St. Paul lamented this fact, saying, "I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing." (Romans 7:19, ESV)

All people struggle with sin. Some are overcome by it and others just deny it, accept it or even admire it. The person, however, who acknowledges sin, and goes to the throne of God's mercy in repentance, will find pardon and peace. Jesus removes our sin. He overcame it on Calvary's cross, and now it need not smother or choke us. 

Jesus has removed our sin as far as the east is from the west. And while certain sins may trouble us, they should never be accepted, as permanent and certainly not as being good. Satan constantly persuades us to accept and approve of sin. But in Jesus Christ, sin need never overcome us. 

"Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57)