Words from WW Blog

This past winter was not kind to half of our backyard lawn. It slopes slightly up from our deck to the back of the property. That equates into half of the grass getting a decent amount of moisture and half that doesn’t. Add to that a decrease in snowfall this winter and the lawn looks like the teenager I saw yesterday who had half of her hair one color and the other half a different color. It was more resembling of part of the NBC peacock. That comment is also evidence of my advanced state of old-fashioned-ism. Regardless, it always looks weird to me, just as my backyard looks weird right now.

My neighbor up the street, Mr. Kwan, has taken pity on me and made my grass-less stretch of turf his project. It could be a great storyline for a reality TV show. The title: Mr. Good Neighbor, or…here it is…”Mr. Kwan’s Lawn!”

Mr. Kwan explains the science of grass to me each day. It brings back memories of Mr. Wizard, the TV science show back in the 50’s, 60s, and 70’s where Don Herbert would show and explain various science experiments to kids. In terms of our backyard, I’m the kid and Mr. Kwan is the wizard.

Mr. Kwan has tilled the backyard, brought up dead grass that has been lying underneath the healthy part of the lawn, instructed me in the seeding of the barren area, and come down the street to check the progress each morning. He has guided me in understanding the anatomy of a healthy lawn, brought me low to the ground for a closer view and with excitement proclaimed, “There is grass! It growing!” Like fine hair on a pre-pubescent teen’s legs, I could see them, shy in their emergence and unaware of their potential. He has enthused me about my small glade.

Like little babies who can not be left by themselves, each day I’m checking on what my new blades are up to. I’m excited to see what the Kentucky Bluegrass will be. Since I was born in the midst of Kentucky Bluegrass, just a few miles outside of Lexington, it’s almost like I’m coming home again.

Growing grass is not easy. Weeds are easy. A few residents in our subdivision have given up on the grass and yielded to the weeds. Mr. Kwan shakes his head at the lack of attention. It’s a metaphor for life. What is stunning and peaceful (a Homes and Gardens lawn) requires effort, time, focus, and devotion. The weeds and winter kills of life can deceptively invade our hoped for existence and our purpose-driven journeys. Quite honestly, weeds can spring up in the midst of the immaculate. Today I pulled a creeping type of vine out of the middle of my “babies”. The Bible warns us about those who might come into our midst and lead us astray. Like weeds in the midst of the grass, they slowly inch into dominance. Or like the dryness of a snowless winter, they drain the life out.

In my lawn story, Mr. Kwan is like my turf shepherd, excited about the growth and cautious about the possible threats. He’s my Good Samaritan, taking pity upon the lack of groundskeeping education of the Baptist pastor down the street.

This entry was posted on July 6, 2022 at 1:48 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.