dead brush

part of my job for my dad is clearing out all the dead brush in the trees on the side of my house.


they have been sort of neglected for a while... (we've been busy) and so much dead stuff was hiding behind the healthy green brush. i mean i worked for hours cleaning out tree by tree. it surprised me because from the outside, the trees looked so healthy.


which got me thinking... what happens to the human soul when its been neglected? does that much dead stuff build up in it?


i think it does.


and then, we put up a "healthy" barrier to hide it.


can you imagine what a soul, with years of neglect, what it would look like? what neglect does to the human spirit?


it would be a wretched sight. it would be horrifying. there would be death and decay spreading throughout it like a plague. some areas would seem untouched, but when you looked deeper, beneath the outer layers, there it would lurk-the damage.


and what is sad, what is really really heartbreaking, is all of this, could be prevented


my trees, however, i do not know if they are beyond saving-ultimately, that is up to my dad.  but to me, those trees looked far past recovery.  if fact, they look like a hazard-a huge fire hazard. with all that dead brush sitting there, waiting to be cleared out, they could catch fire in an instant. and they sit right next to our house. we didnt even know it was that bad. thinking of what could have happened with the tiniest spark is terrifying. oh. and even worse. they are sitting between the power lines (they've gotten too tall, part of my job)


now apply this to humanity. when does a persons soul get so dead, that it becomes a hazard?


before i go into this, let me make it clear, i do not think the way to handle this is to rid ourselves of the people who are damaged. i dont think a human being is ever beyond repair.


that being said, if a person goes so long being neglected and having dead brush build up inside their soul,  then they too only need a spark to set them off. it might not even be clear what the spark is. but either way it could be dangerously close to you and your family-like the trees to my house.  and you may be completely unaware of the threat.


and to think...this could all be prevented. 


seriously. it can.


all it takes is a smile. a simple recognition of the persons importance. a wave. a gesture. a "how do you do?" and it only takes a minute.


we are all created in the Image of God. therefore... we all deserve respect. we all deserve honor.  they all deserve respect. they all deserve honor.  they do not have to be a part of your "group" to be noticed. but that doesnt mean they shouldnt be. 


they are God's children too.


honor them. respect them. love them.


and make sure to keep caring for them. otherwise, dead brush will begin in their soul.