Ever since Spring made its entrance I have reveled in the warmth of the sun and refreshment that comes from falling rain.  What Michigander would ever complain about such weather after emerging from a very cold Winter.  Now is the time for God’s blessing of budding trees, colorful annuals and nesting birds.

Each morning when I drive off to work I get a reminder that Spring is here.  Life is pushing the limits of my patience but I still manage to ignore the reminders.  After all, I don’t want to complain.

Turning a deaf ear to repeated signs, however, is becoming harder. I try fiddling with my cell phone, checking appointments and changing radio stations.  But, the reminders are becoming greater.

Each day the professionals haul their equipment into the neighborhood and finish their work quickly. 
Behind the work of these professionals is a manicured effort that makes the rest of us amateurs green with envy.  Their machines are big, powerful and very quick.

Really, though, personally I’d rather mow my own lawn.  “I like mowing the lawn.”  There’s something about the smell of fresh cut grass that makes me feel like I’m one with the constant miracle of growing life.  Besides, once the lawn is cut, to stand back and admire the end result is so gratifying.

Instead of putting on a coat and tie, I get to put on whatever I find.  Then, I open up the gas can and smell that great aroma.  Once I fill the gas tank, I pull on the starting chord and get to pilot a powerful 5 horsepower self-propelled machine.

This is God’s calling for men down to the detail of sweat, real estate, machine domination and muscle.  My lawn looks as sharp as the best in the neighborhood . . . once it’s cut.  Right now it looks like a bushy-haired hippie without the good sense to take a bath or comb his locks.

OK, I admit it.  I don’t like yard work!  My admission is ancient history. I have posited the idea of replacing my grass with Astroturf.  There have even been occasions when I wanted to rent a goat to keep my lawn trimmed and fertilized at the same time.

Low maintenance is my preference.  A rock garden sounds nice.  Why pay high water bills to grow the grass just to keep it cut?  Oh, no I’ve been discovered!  Plastic flowers anyone?