I cut my grass yesterday. I also used the weed-eater. Each time I do, I find myself getting irritated. Please stay with me.
I’ve always tried to keep my lawn trimmed and cut. Not obsessively. After all, I have better things to do! Like ride my bike. Work out at the Y. Spend time with Jo. Twiddle my thumbs. Watching grass grow or paint dry almost seems more exciting.
Why? Actually, there are two minor reasons and one huge reason.
The Minors:
It always grows back. It’s not a one-and-done thing, so that means about every week I have to find the time to cut my grass.
Weeds! Need I say more? I know little children find those yellow things lovely and will pick them to give to their mom, but I find them annoying. Cut them down and they grow back. Quicker than the grass. And you gotta get them before they go to seed.
The Major:
One word: MOLES. I know it may be wrong for me to say it…and I know I probably shouldn’t talk about God’s creatures like this, but….I. H.A.T.E. M.O.L.E.S!!!!!! I tire of watching them taking my yard and making it their own little playground where they can frolic underground. I tire of stepping into holes or soft ground and turning my ankle or stumbling. I tire of having to push extra hard to get the mower through the runs that want to cause the mower to “hang up.” I groan when I see the bare spots from the raised ground where the mower zipped it off.
You might say, “Well, Bill, treat your lawn with grub killer, their favorite meal. ” I have and I do. But you have to be a weatherman to use that! I’m not wasting money to water my lawn, so I need it to rain within 24 hours. And to quote a line from Back to the Future: “Since when can the weatherman predict the weather?” Then I need to use it when the lawn is damp so the granules stick to the grass until it rains within the 24 hours. And…the wind needs to be not blowing. I don’t have a meteorology degree!
All in all, taking care of a lawn reminds me of my life. I need to care for it. Get rid of the weeds which keep cropping up. Eliminate pests (not people, although some are toxic). Practice the 4:8 Principle. That is Philippians 4:8-“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable…think on these things.”
Take care of your lawn. More importantly, take care of that which needs cared for most of all: your heart.
I don’t mind cutting the lawn so much. I use the time to reflect and contemplate. The moles can be irritating, but I suspect they think the same thing about me as mower moves overhead and shakes their tunnels.
I think the comparison between life and lawn care is appropriate. Left unkempt a lawn will overgrow, become filled with weeds and will likely attract unwanted creatures.
Life is the same… left to our own devices, our lives will likely grow little weeds that will eventually overtake us. We may also attract unsavory individuals into our lives for all the wrong reasons.
What a great opportunity to see if there are any weeds that need some pulling in our lives… As you state Bill, weeds that are hacked down will simply grow back… let them grow to long and they will go to seed and spread. The key is getting to the root of the weed and ripping it out of the soil.
You could seriously turn this topic into a sermon series…. “Lawn Care of Life”
That made me chuckle Ryan. The sermon series. But I’m guessing I could do something for a few weeks. i would just have to be really careful my disdain for moles doesn’t overtake my lessons. 🙂
I do love the analogy you’ve made here, Bill – that we should be sure to mow and trim our spiritual lives with God’s help. I’m so grateful that we have moss instead of a lawn! Still, the moss needs occasional weed-eating, which Danny just did this week. Great reminder that we cannot allow things to grow wild in our Christian walk.
Blessings!
Moss. Hmmm. That would cut down on my mowing time for sure. Thanks Martha.
Last night after bible study Bill, I went home and raced through cutting my lawn like a madwoman to get it done before the sun set. I hate moles too, I had them at my last house, we could share mole horror stories someday if you want to.
Totally agree with Ryan, on a sermon on lawn care for life. The more I read the bible, the closer my relationship with God is the more I see the sin in the world and how fallen the world is. I see how every decision I make either glorifies the Father or does not, you cannot be somewhere in between. It’s sad to see so many lost, living in a fog, and not understanding what separation from the Father does to their life. It shows me, how important it is to be a strong disciple for God’s kingdom. It reminds me, that I fall way short so many times in speaking to the lost about my Savior. Honestly, the bible stories I read and ask how could they do that, and yet, my life can mimic the same mistakes. I know that God is still forming me, teaching me, and that I still have so much to learn. I am so happy I walk with my Savior and have the Lord to lean on while He opens my eyes and teaches me.
now there is two of you who think I should do a sermon series on Lawn Care. Perhaps you might like to look at mine before you say Yes. 🙂 you make a powerful analogy Gail. And totally agree that He is still forming and teaching me.
Hey Bill, as you probably know we are facing a drought in the West. As it is we got rid of the little green turf a couple of weeks after moving into this house. Fair enough as years later we would see the water crisis. Anyways we have rock landscape now, and it’s actually harder to keep nice and clean because of all the debris. But maintenance is a must if you want a nice living adobe, right? We do owe it to the Lord to keep our temple clean… as for the 30 year old house… that’s another story. LOL
I had a friend who lived in AZ and he had a rock yard. I guess there is both good and bad with that.
It is so amazing how spiritual “weeds” can grow & overtake our hearts without us noticing them until they are fully grown & causing problems. This was such a great reminder, Pastor Bill.
That is the real tragedy of failing to keep an honest evaluation of ourselves “up=to-date.”
For one of the minors, you can eat dandelions. Put them in your salad 😏 On a more serious note, I’ve thought of housecleaning in the same way before. Never done, just like my progress toward perfection. Tasks like these can be good reminders of how diligent we need to be at rooting out the things of this world that seek to destroy us as well as making sure our inner lives are pleasing to God as well. Best of luck with the moles, Bill. We switched (moved) from having a lawn to having a yard a few years ago… much less stress.
I think I will pass on the dandelions in my salad. 🙂 As for your application: it is so true. I’m guessing I can say I have a yard.
Yep, there are very few things that are ‘one and done.’ Grant us patience, grace, and a sense of humor, Lord.
Very true Linda. As for the patience: hmmm. I was once told (and believe it) that to ask for patience put you at “risk” for more trials. But it is a fact of life.