Green!
Callum Borchers had an article in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) the other day: “Why White-Collar Men Are Obsessed with the Perfect Lawn.”
He cited Dave Won, a successful sales consultant:
I get a lot of satisfaction from my hard-earned green. I am referring, of course, to the verdant lawn that I care for like one of my children. I’m competitive. My neighbors have good lawns, but I’m going to try to get a better lawn than them.”
Apparently, these days, for a lot of office workers a manicured lawn is as much a status symbol as a luxury car in the driveway. Yes, of course, one could spend money and hire landscapers to accomplish the same end. But it’s not the same.
Reported Borchers:
A trendy personal-finance axiom is that there are three levels of wealth: mowing your own lawn, paying someone else to do it, then … mowing your own lawn.”
That third level is what we’re talking about. In fact, even TV sporting events include many commercials for lush green grass.
If weekend warriors can’t slay zombies on a dystopian battlefield, at least they can massacre dandelions in their backyards. Like a killer golf swing or rock-hard glutes, a perfect lawn is a way for people who make a living with their minds to prove they are good at something physical too.”
All by themselves. No gardener. No landscaper.
Borchers thinks that, in the office, being able to banter about blade height and the best time to aerate gains one access to an office subculture of lawn-cultivation.
Sadly, I, your faithful blogger, ain’t one of those. There are dead spots in my lawn, despite a recent attempt at transplanting turf that I watered religiously. My thumb isn’t green; it’s a dry, parched shade of brown. And the previous owner’s playset in the backyard has left an indelible mark.
Borcher agrees. His lawn is no better than mine.
Cut me some slack—or, better yet, my lawn. I’m busy with work, DIY projects, and five kids! But that, according to one of America’s leading authorities on lawn care, is not a get-out-of-jail-free card.”
So said (or rather, scolded) former Speaker of the House John Boehner, who spoke to Borchers.
That’s a lousy excuse.”
Boehner hadn’t granted an interview in a year until Borchers asked him to help him understand why white-collar men are obsessed with their lawns. He was on the phone with the WSJ writer within 20 minutes.
Boehner:
The secret is that mowing the lawn is a cover story. What looks to others like a chore is actually a refuge from screens, co-workers, children and everything else that demands mental energy. Think of this as taking time for yourself. Now, you don’t want to tell anybody that, all right? They might not let you do it if they think you’re enjoying it. Cutting the grass will be the smallest of the benefits. You’ll get a lot more out of taking your time and forgetting about all kinds of things. It’s healthy for you.”
Interesting. Lawnmowing as an escape!
The Bible might even agree!
Yahweh is my shepherd; I will not lack.
In grassy pastures He makes me lie; by restful waters He leads me.
My soul He restores; He guides me in tracks of righteousness for the sake of His name.
Psalm 23:1–3
No lack. No stress. Ample provision. Secure. Reposing. Quiescent. Trusting. All through the journey of life. Because God is sufficient! Escape to him!
SOURCE (of ideas, numbers, and words): The Wall Street Journal
Abe Kuruvilla is the Carl E. Bates Professor of Christian Preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY), and a dermatologist in private practice. His passion is to explore, explain, and exemplify preaching. 