Admire the Work

While mowing the lawn one afternoon, my wife opened the window and yelled out to me, “You look miserable.” I probably was. I am not a fan of yard work. I would rather be reading a book. Our yard is long, hilly, uneven, and mostly weeds. Sure, our yard is green, but it’s almost entirely green weeds. 

Getting back to mowing the lawn, I started to ponder her comments because such a chore is a great opportunity to let your mind wander. Her comments made me question whether other people also thought I looked miserable as they drove by me, or if I really needed to be so miserable for an hour each week. Perhaps, instead of letting miserable feelings show up on my face, I could start to admire yard work. There is a sense of satisfaction that bubbles up in me when I finally finish. Perhaps, I thought I could channel that satisfaction more regularly.

And so, over time, I have tried my best to approach yard work not as a chore, but an experience in which I can take pride. I’ve made it a point to take it all in when I’m finally finished. I look out over our yard, admiring and breathing in the freshly cut weeds. 

I’ve gone from hating it to enjoying the hard work so that I can admire the finished product. And, just the other day, a neighbor drove by, rolled down her window, and said our yard looks great. I told her that it is mostly weeds, but I appreciated her comment. To be honest, I’ll be living on that compliment for the rest of my life. 

As our semester draws to a close, first, I hope you’re not miserable. But more than that, I hope you are able to take a moment to look back and admire all the good work you have done this spring. I hope you are able to pause and look around at what you have completed. You have done good, faithful, sacred, and beautiful work. You have contributed to a successful semester during a global pandemic. 

I know that during this time in the semester, many of us put our heads down to push through to the end. We end in a whirlwind of exhaustion. However, I want to encourage you to take a break, look around you, take a few deep breaths, and admire the work. I think you will be glad you did.