A Yard Observed

I got a letter this week. Not just any letter, but an official notice from the city of Festus. You see, when you live in the city of Festus, they expect that the grass in your yard should be cut. So much so that they have a law that says your grass can't be more than 10 inches tall. Now, truth be told, my grass was probably longer than 10 inches, and it needed to be cut really bad. But with all the rain we had before it was hard for me to cut it. The letter, I guess, was the nudge that I needed to cut my grass.



My reaction to the letter was a startling reminder of something. As soon as I read it, I went out and mowed my lawn, but while I was mowing I had all sorts of thoughts. First I thought I would write another letter back to whoever it was that sent it, detailing my exploits as a full-time student with a full-time job who doesn't have time to measure the grass in his yard to make sure it's "up to code". Then I thought I would guilt them into trying to make my pregnant wife mow the long because I wasn't able to.

My mind was racing every which way. My focus was then on why the city even knew about my lawn in the first place. I thought to myself, "these city workers have nothing better to do with their time than to come into my yard while I'm not home and measure my grass.. Lazy people!" It didn't stop there either. What if someone complained? Oh, I bet it was this person. They've never seemed to like us. No, it was this person! Well if they think I'm going to help them with this now, they're just out of luck I guess. I'll just have to start mowing my lawn every morning at 5:00 am to make sure it's legal.

Now for the realization: We are to live at peace with everyone. Paul commanded the Romans church not to repay evil with evil, but to "be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" (Rom 12:17-18), and he charges Timothy that prayers and intercessions be made for everyone, including rulers and kings so that they can live a quite and peaceful life "in all godliness and holiness" (1 Tim 2:1-2).

My life shouldn't be one big, loud, attention-grabbing mess. It should be quite, not trying to make trouble, but showing everyone the love of Christ. Sure, there are times when it's necessary to proclaim loudly the life I have in Christ, but on a day-to-day basis I shouldn't be making trouble for myself for the sake of Christ. Nor should my life be easy, either. Peter has the best reaction for the church to the idea of persecution. He tells us "do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you" (1 Pet 4:12). It's so great because we're promised suffering and trials in this tent because of the life we have in Christ, so naturally we shouldn't think it's weird that it's happening to us.

My challenge is to have a quite life. I try to proclaim the Gospel as much as possible, but my desire isn't to stir up trouble but to preach Christ and only Christ, making His love known to everyone I encounter. I mowed my lawn not because it looked silly or because I "had to", but because I didn't want to make trouble and thus make a stumbling block for those who want to see Christ in my life.