My brother and I grew up on a rocky, vine-covered hillside. Consequently, neither of us ever learned how to mow grass. As an adult, I tried a push-mower a few times, and then hired a teen to do the job.

Michael is also a complete mowing novice, and now that he and his lady have rented their first home together, one that boasts a considerable lawn, he took initiative and ordered his very first lawnmower at the age of 49!

He called me to say that the electric mower had arrived. Since his lovely housemate hasn’t moved in yet, he saw no problem with hauling the heavy box from the front door into the living room. When we spoke, the machine was in pieces all over the newly finished hardwood floors.

There were a lot of words such as, “gonna kill me” and “I know” and “good idea at the time.”
We’ve all uttered those sorts of words in the middle of a big mess of our own making and wished we could go back in time to stop ourselves from following a certain unwise impulse.

While I don’t like to look foolish, I don’t want to get beyond a willingness to try something new, to take a risk, to dare to play the fool. Figuring out the acceptable level of risk, that’s the trick.

Hope those good ideas don’t come back to haunt you – much!

In wisdom and grace,
Rev. Ruth