You know, sometimes you can learn some of the most important principles in the strangest places.

It was about 25 years ago on a field trip in the deserts of Utah that I first learned of this interesting phenomenon of nature. We were studying Juniper trees and it was pointed out to me how no grass ever grows in close proximity to Utah Juniper. Now, that’s not because the grass and the juniper compete for water and other resources, and the juniper wins – no it’s not that. Rather, it is because of something called Allelopathy. I like that word. Allelopathy, in the simplest of terms, means that juniper trees exude something into the soil around them that kills or inhibits the growth of other plants. Juniper forests are not like pine forests where the trees are thick and close together and the under story is rife with vegetation. No, it’s not like that. Juniper trees stand all by themselves and rather far apart.

Now, mind you, Juniper is not the only plant that does this; there are many. Black Walnut trees, for example, are one of the most powerful. They don’t just inhibit some plants around them, they kill every plant around them by the chemicals they give off. They are indeed [a] very toxic neighbor.

Now I’m sure you realize this is not a Botany lesson.

Jesus once said, “…Be [be] of good cheer…” (Matthew 9:2; Matthew 14:27; Mark 6:50; John 16:33) Now, may I illustrate why that is so important? When we do not obey that commandment, we practice spiritual ‘allelopathy.’ When we are negative or grumpy, or angry or moody – or, you know, just yuck! – we radiate that toxicity to those around us, effectively killing or inhibiting any and all affections we might receive. And if we persist in that kind of behavior, we very well may find ourselves standing all alone in an emotional desert of our own creation.

You know, it is so much better, figuratively speaking, to live a jungle – where all want to be close, even symbiotic, sharing, living, and loving life together. Therefore, I believe the conclusion of this story might well be this: Away with the toxicity of sour-faced pickle-suckers!