by Steve Olson
When I was younger, not quite a teenager but past childhood my grandmother decided I was old enough to cut her lawn. I think it was so that she could give me money without quite spoiling me. She talked to my grandpa, who had been the chief grass cutter until then. I’m not sure how much cajoling she had to do, but one warm sunny day in July, I showed up at their house for my first lesson in cutting grass. Grandpa showed me how to fill the small gas tank on the 1.5 hp Briggs and Stratton, how to prime the single cylinder and then how to wrap the rope around the pulley attached to the flywheel. After a couple of false starts I was able to get the engine to fire up and pretty soon I was being shown the proper way to cut. First we went north and south, disengaging the clutch in order to empty the catcher of fresh green clippings while the engine putted away contentedly. Then I ran over the area I had cut in an east west direction and finally I was shown how to cut diagonally across the whole lawn. It was enjoyable work, but it was hard and it was hot.
As we were headed toward the backyard to repeat the exercise all over again I said, “Grandpa, I’m thirsty.” I was hoping for a cold bottle of Sprite but grandpa had a better idea. He walked to a faucet at the side of the house which had a green garden hose attached to it coiled on a small rack and a funny looking clover leaf type sprinkler which he unscrewed from the free end of the hose. “Here,” he said as he turned the faucet on. “Drink this.” He handed me the hose and I put the stream of clear liquid to my mouth. At first the water was warm from the hose which had been baking in the afternoon sun. But it cooled quickly enough and despite the odd flavor, I’d never tasted anything better. It was an unexpected treat, not bubbly Sprite, but a moment in time with a beloved grandparent. He knew what I needed and even now, there is nothing quite as refreshing as water from a garden hose. I just knew, from grandma cajoling grandpa, from grandpa teaching me how to mow and showing me the pleasure of cold water on a hot day from a garden hose, that I was loved.
Our Lord God loves us the same. Even as we struggle with our labors in the world, even as we suffer under the culture that if it bothers to ask where our god is, God stands at the source, telling us to drink deeply from the waters of life. Knowing what will slake our thirst best. We live in the dry dark places knowing that God is already there ready to give us Life.