I have always heard the saying the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. I guess it is probably true. I always thought it was a matter of prospective… that is which side of the fence you were standing on. I also figured that whichever side you were on, there is one fact that never changes. What is that fact? The grass still is going to need mowed regardless of which side you are on.

Now, I am not a pessimist. I always like to think of myself as a glass kind of half full kind of guy. But I am also a realist and as a realist I realize that the greener grass will probably need mowed quicker and more frequently.

If you haven’t figured out by now I am not a fan to mowing grass. And with this year’s recent abundance of rainfall the grass has needed mowed much more frequently, like every week or even twice a week. I have to admit, however, with the invention of the riding mower to the evolution of the zero turn mower, the task of lawn mowing is not as laborious as it used to be.

I am now up to mowing 3 lawns. I mow the church parsonage (equals a little under an acre), my neighbor across the street has a lawn that is a little over an acre and I have a place up in Copan that is definitely over an acre. I have a ZTR mower here and in Copan. I haven’t stopped to figure how much time I spend mowing as it would probably depress me.

And I don’t mow in circles. As a matter of fact, I don’t mow the same pattern twice. I will mow north and south once, then mow east and west next time. Then I will mow diagonal (NE to SW) changing to NW to SE the next time. The next time I go back to the original north to south. I was told mowing the same pattern every time will cause ruts or tracks in your yard. And, mowing different patterns makes it look like a professional did it (just as well as having some fun doing this task).

A few times this year I have had to go over the yard twice as the grass was high, did not cut even and there was a build-up of the cut grass (mowing twice evens out and spreads out the trimmings better). This also makes a really neat checkerboard design and I think that makes it look cool!

I do not like to mow but I do like to have a nice looking yard! And when I mow my yard and my neighbor across the street the neighborhood looks awesome as half of the yards have been mowed (did I mention that I live on a cul-de-sac with only 4 houses)? Still, the other neighbors usually follow and our street looks like a park.

Mowing last night I was thinking about all this (I mean, what else do you have to do while going up and down in a line and pulling two handles opposite direction at the end of the line)? I was thinking about how pretty the yard was looking. And the nice looking lawn required a good amount of time, proper equipment, some mechanical talent and creativity that takes me outside of the box of tradition (mowing in circles verses designs).

This just described (me anyway) getting into God’s Word. It takes a commitment of time. Not giving 5 minutes for a quick devotional but sitting down in a secluded environment (haven’t seen anyone running beside the lawnmower trying to talk to me or call my phone) with the Bible and reading or studying the Scriptures. It takes time. I commit to about an hour a day for at least 5 days a week. It takes time just like mowing.

My Zero Turn mower is awesome. You can literally turn on a dime. Having a Bible that is readable and understandable is crucial. Find a version or translation you can read and understand. It is even better if you can find a Study Bible that has notes or commentary on the verse(s). Maybe find a one volume commentary that will explain Scriptures in more detail to go with the Bible.

The mechanical talent only comes from constant use. I can make that Zero Turn mower move, turn, squeal tires, pop a wheelie or stop on a dime. How? I use it and know it. You can do the same with the Bible. You just have to use it. Get comfortable with it. Getting and reading the Bible EVERY DAY will make you so familiar with it you will know where the Scriptures are for most things in life!

Finally, be creative, go outside the box in your Bible endeavor. You do not have to read the books in any particular order or all the OT and then the NT. Read some each day or commit to the prophets then history and maybe go to the gospels or end times texts. Ask questions that no one else is or afraid to ask and then go on a treasure hunt to find the answers in Scripture. Do not be afraid to be creative finding another person to study with asking questions (…iron sharpens iron… Prov. 27:17) The grass will not get mowed on its own and you will never learn about God or His Word by never opening His Word.

2 Timothy 2:15 Bro. Tim