More on Tomatoes: The Weed/Tomato Conundrum

Why is it that one must plant tomatoes every single year but weeds grow perennially, when you don't even want them? In fact, if one does not mulch properly and completely, weeds will sprout given even the smallest opening. Tomatoes will grow strong and healthy only if properly watered and given appropriate sunlight. Weeds will grow under almost any circumstances. Once they have sprouted, if you don't pull them weeds will totally overwhelm tomato plants and choke them to death. This is all very frustrating and, I believe, yet another metaphor for life.

I think that weeds represent the yeitzer hara (evil inclination) and tomatoes the yeitzer tov (inclination for good).

The yeitzer tov must be planted and carefully nurtured. The yeitzer hara is always there, just waiting to sprout given even the tiniest opening. If one doesn't constantly check his or her yeitzer hara, it can easily overwhelm the good that one does.

So, life is NOT like a box of chocolates. It is like a tomato plant.