Vegetative Vigor

Everyone who grows 
squash has one that escapes 
notice and becomes an exemplar for the word vigor. This plant is producing fruit at an unbeatable rate. It's formidably potent.




It makes me want to shout “Stop, little pot, stop”,  like the magic kettle over-running a village with porridge. 

Instead, I throw the monsters into a brush pile and leave them to decompose. 

Consider, too, mental vigor. I met a friend’s Uncle Harry when he was 96. We grinned at his unintentionally retro look, wearing summer duds from an earlier decade. But he was mentally sharp and talked about current affairs. He was still serving on boards of nonprofit organizations and participated in a longevity study at a major hospital.

Finally, there is spiritual vigor. St. Paul doesn’t use the word vigor, but he describes it when he exhorts us to “run in such a way that you may win.” He uses the metaphor of a trained athlete, competing for the highest prize, the imperishable wreath of a life lived for Jesus. 

So, even though I’m not going to eat those yellow squash, I appreciate their vigor.

May God grant us all fruitfulness, physical strength, mental acuity, and spiritual vitality.