Part of Steve Case's chapel this morning touched on the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling. I like that poem, but what stood out to me in the context of this program was the line, "If you can fill the unforgiving minute, with sixty seconds' worth of distance run..." Nice.
On Tuesday the shop that had my riding mower delivered it repaired, to my home. It had been inoperable since before season 3 of BMSW began and as I had mentioned in a previous blog I have been using my Toro push mower. But now, there it sat in the driveway in all its orange glory awaiting my return home to nestle my behind in the saddle and fulfill its only reason for existence... At first I ignored it as if it were a giant Cheetoh beckoning to be bitten. I walked away. But I came back..., I always come back. I circled it twice and this time in the fading twilight it seemed more like a giant Dorito calling out, "Just one Rich, you can stop after just one." I walked away again. It began to rain..., the kind of rain that makes the grass grow (no, that isn't a metaphor for me weeping, it really did start to rain). I went in the house and left it outside. It's a rugged machine it'll be OK I said. The next day when I returned home from work, I decided I needed to get it back in the garage. I cleared the items which had filled the void where it is usually parked and fired it up. It sounded great. The rumble of the engine and the lure of the open yard were almost more than I could resist. But resist I did. It is now back in its familiar spot right next to the push mower. The rain did indeed make the grass grow. It needs to be mowed, probably today after work. But in the rider's absence the Toro and I have grown closer. In a sense it has become a training partner. Louder than Tina for sure, but no less demanding. I have a choice going forward of which equipment to use when I mow, but I can say at this moment that I am leaning heavily toward the Toro.
If I can fill the unforgiving minute, with sixty seconds' worth of distance mowed...
Well said. A man and his Toro Push Mower.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an appropriate message, Rich! All day, every day we are faced with choices and temptations from our past. Mike made a very astute point this morning that "Repentance" is all about making a 180 degree change in our thinking. Turning from our old ways to THE Way, Truth, and Life. I do not believe it is simply coincidence that He refers to Himself this way. Look at all He was tempted with, and yet (as a man in the flesh, having set aside all of His godly powers) He pressed on according to His appointed mission. As we have been made in His image and likeness, so must we!
ReplyDeleteIn our support of you, Rich, may we all shout, "TORO! TORO!" :)
Louie, I've got the feeling this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
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