We have an annoying critter—or two—in our backyard that likes to dig up things we’ve planted, like pineapple heads. We have a wooden fence on one side with no ground-level openings, a chain link fence with various blocks, metal items, old car parts, and anything else Joel could find, blocking any digging areas. And we have a gate that is closed and locked at night. When we remember, we sprinkle cayenne pepper around the plants. But if the ground is wet, or if we forget, we find the pineapple heads dug up! We replant, and they are beginning to grow roots; still, just yesterday, they were uprooted again.

After this last time of replanting, I thought about how Jesus used everyday things to teach us about His love, the importance of prayer, and the perseverance necessary to become a good Christian, and this situation could be one such parable.

Every morning, ask yourself: Am I rooted in Christ? Can the enemy shake my faith? The prophet Isaiah wrote: “The Lord…will satisfy your needs in parched places…you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail… (Isaiah 58:11ff)”

Live your Christian life like a watered garden. Be on the lookout for the devil. Let the Word of God nourish your faith. And this world’s evil “critters” will have no chance to uproot who you are meant to be.

About the author: Rev. Elizabeth L. Nelson is the priest at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in LaBelle.