Lessons from My Lawn

We have a relatively small yard with nearly as much garden space as the lawn. My wife Carol is the steward of the gardens and I take care of the grass. The gardens are watered regularly, and the grass gets enough H2O to avoid going completely brown during this drought.I have a tough time thinking about an irrigation system for the grass. Partly for environmental reasons, but mostly because I cannot justify the expense. However, I noticed that under the stress of the drought, the weeds are creeping up.

The brown grass has helped me make the connection between my lawn and my spiritual life. The lawn has a seasonal cycle. I think it was Scotts that first introduced the 4 Step lawn care plan. The process begins in spring. Along with the fertilizer I must put down a crabgrass preventative treatment as well as a grub control product. In early summer the fertilizer has a weed killer, mid-summer has insect control, and in fall the fertilizer is designed to grow deep roots for the desolate winter season. In caring for the lawn there are events beyond my control. This year it is the drought. I know that withholding the life-giving water causes the lawn to go dormant and could even lead to death if I’m not careful.

Like my lawn, my spiritual life needs the fertilizer of the Word of God and Communion. I need confession and humility to guard against the weeds of temptation and pride. And I too thirst for the life-giving waters. Just like my lawn needs mowing, I need to be pruned to stay healthy. Tending to my spiritual life takes effort and discipline. Without perseverance, a weed will find its way into my thinking. Before I know it, the weeds have taken over and I need the special treatment of a spiritual director.

Of lawns and the spiritual life there is a major difference. My lawn has no free will, no choice. If I skip two years of grub control, there will be patches of dead grass. When I choose to withhold water, the lawn will turn brown until I water again. But I have the choice. I know that if I am diverted from my spiritual practices, the weeds start to take over.

So often I think of stewardship in terms of finance, but I am reminded by St. Paul that I am first called to be a servant of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God. As the summer starts to wind down, many churches will begin the budget planning process for 2023. Without staying focused on being the servants of Christ and the stewards of God’s mysteries, churches can be overrun by the weeds of anxiety and confusion. Churches, like individuals, need to make the choices that help grow and protect a good spiritual life. As your partner in ministry, the Foundation has the tools and resources to keep the weeds down and the well filled with life giving water.