Spring

Well, spring has sprung.  And that means a host of new articles in this space about Hal’s lawn maintenance.  Those who have been reading this column for a while have gotten used to this, I suspect.

The early signs are good this season.  My cherry tree learned how to read a calendar, apparently; it had blooms on it at the right time of year, not six months early/late.  My roses and bottlebrush plants are full of blooms.  My blueberries had plenty of flowers.  My grass went from winter brown to thick, dark green as soon as it started raining.  I’m encouraged.

But signs of early success are opportunities to work harder, not less hard.  That’s why Paul told the Thessalonians, already “taught by God to love one another,” to “excel still more” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10).  That’s why he told the Philippians, long-time “partakers of grace,” to “abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment” (Philippians 1:8-9).  That’s why Jesus encouraged Peter and the other disciples who had left everything” to follow Jesus, but cautioned them against pride — “But many who are first will be last; and the last, first” (Matthew 19:22-30).

The work continues as long as there remains opportunity to work (John 9:4).  And this work is not seasonal in nature, either.  It continues 12 months out of the year.

Actually, come to think of it, I guess a lack of early success is an opportunity to work harder as well.  But that can wait for another post.  For now, I need to go cut and weed some more.