I decided to take a final stab yesterday at my folks back yard leaf pileup. It would be my last chance till the next visit, as I head home today. Their back yard has about a hundred trees...or so....and the leaves have not been cleared in a few years. But I went at them with a vengeance and a leaf blower. I worked three hours straight and made significant progress. About a third or more of the yard was uncovered. I would have done more but then, disaster struck. Smoke began coming out of the electric outlet at the base of the blower, near my hand. Fortunately, before I self immolated, I switched it off. The electric prong was melted. Melted! I have never seen such a thing! Oh well. I had had quite enough of leaf blowing anyway. Maybe God was telling me I had done enough. Unfortunately, my folks now need a new leaf blower. I saved them the expense of hiring a service to gather the leaves, but I cost them in ruined equipment. Not sure if I was an asset or a liability.
After I was rejuvenated by lunch and hoping to redeem myself, I headed out to my leaf piles with a garbage can. Two hours later, I had completely cleared half of five years of leaves. I felt pretty good about it. If I thought I would be able to move today, I would stay another day to finish the job. But I think perhaps I have done all I am physically able to do of hard labor, and will spend the day driving back to North Carolina instead. I need to get back to editing my book, though the leaves were a nice diversion.
My parents employ a teen boy to help with their yard work, but they say he is not very careful and is only good for an hour of work. Yard work is hard labor. After the first ten minutes of gathering the leaves into the garbage can, hauling the garbage can across the yard, and then dumping it over the curb where the leaf vacuum will suck it up, I didn't think I would last another five. But somehow, the desire to finish the job and help the parents I love took over, and I fell into a rhythm.
It was still hard. After the first few cans of leaves, the yard looked hardly any different. It did not seem it would be worth the effort. But as the minutes and my breath ticked away, slowly the massive mounds of leaves began to diminish. And it was with deep satisfaction that I hauled away the final can, and the entire middle half of their yard was clear.
Hard labor can crush the spirit, and discourage the best of us. Many of us would rather run from the hard work of relationships, or excellence, or following God as we should. I suspect most of us would prefer the path of least resistance, least sweat, least struggle. God knows this, and graciously when the labor is too intense, will sometimes pull us out of our distress. But I would contend that the blessings of His assistance will be all the more rewarding if we have given all of ourselves first. If we don't reach the end of our own limits, how can we understand how insufficient they will ultimately be? And unless we recognize that, will we ever feel we need God? And if we don't feel we need God, we are lost.
I woke up and looked out over the cleared lawn. Already new leaves were falling, scattering its once pristine surface.
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He broke their spirits with hard labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and gloom and broke their chains apart. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His faithful love and His wonderful works for all humanity...
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them from their distress. Rising up to the sky, sinking down to the depths, their courage melting away in anguish, they reeled and staggered like drunken men, and all their skill was useless. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress.
Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things and consider the Lord ’s acts of faithful love. (Psalms 107:12-15, 19, 26-28, 43 HCSB)
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I did the exact same thing to my leaf blower! Only I didn't get smoke (or if I did I didn't see it), but my extension cord melted into the blower socket and blackened it. I wonder if we can't use them for long periods of time. I bought another at a yard sale for 10.00 so if I do that again it won't be so painful. I hear you on the leaves. They are very untidy and I live in a woods. Constant battle of the leaves to even cut the grass. AND the resulting aches and pains and bruises? I have them now also.
ReplyDeletejudy, well now I know. I guess next time I better take more breaks! haha!
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