Apply the “weed theory” to solving any problem …

When you have a problem, the one thing you want is for it to be fully resolved, right?

Simplistic approaches to resolving problems won’t accomplish that. Take, for example, how this dad responded to his son’s problem …

• A little boy came running to his father, crying hysterically. Through the sobs he was able to communicate to him that he had swallowed a penny and he was sure he was going to die.

To the dad’s dismay, no amount of comfort or explanation was helping.

In an attempt to calm down his son, the dad palmed a penny from his pocket and pretended to pull it from the young boy’s ear.

Crying gave way to amazement and squeals of laughter.

In a flash, the child snatched the penny from his father’s hand, swallowed it, and then cheerfully demanded, “Do it again, Daddy!”

An overwhelming reason why unresolved problems are unresolved is a failure to apply the “weed theory.”

Have you ever pulled weeds?

What happens if you don’t get the roots when pulling weeds?

They will grow back!

When you have a problem, if you only treat the symptoms, the problem will remain unresolved. You must identify the root cause of the problem, and address that — thus, applying “weed theory” for a resolution.

The root causes to our problems can be discovered in one, or a combination of, four categories:

• • Spiritual – sin.
  • Mental – how and what we think.
  • Biological – disease, disorders, imbalances, etc.
  • Environmental – other people, circumstances, other environmental factors such as lack or abundance of resources, etc.

The next time you must resolve a problem, don’t be so impatient that you only treat the symptoms of the problem. Make time to identify the root cause(s) of the problem, and then treat that for a full and (hopefully) lasting resolution.

Scotty