Backyard Wisdom

So, I’m (almost) finished raking my leaves (it’s teaching me the meaning of the word ‘eternity’) and although my body has been very active (as you can just imagine), my mind has been too – as it’s been involved in uh, erm - contemplation (sorry).

I’ve been pondering the meaning of the changing seasons (my own as well as nature’s), the falling leaves and other things (gravity wins), the cold approach of winter – grey and white . . . (all that stuff . . .). 

Having had more than one season doing this (experience) I have thought about the implications of the above (wisdom), and I’m going to share it with you – now.

1.     Apparently one has to rake up leaves every year. Get over it.

2.     Not all will fit in the bag; make sure you have lots of them – or lots of room.

3.     Eat the fruit of the tree (if there is any) and throw out the leaves.

4.     You can’t save the leaves for next year’s trees.

5.     The tree will make its own leaves; you don’t have to do anything in that regard.

6.     Some of the fruits (like some of one’s ideas) are for the birds.

7.     Keep the tree.

8.     If it’s dead, cut it down before it falls. Get rid of it.

9.     Not all of the saplings around the trees should you keep. Pick and choose.

10. Water and feed the trees if you want (only the living ones); but it’s mostly unnecessary.

11. Prune your fruit trees; leave the other ones alone – they’ll figure it out.

I wonder if any of the above applies, say, to traditions, institutions, churches, strategies, missions, exploits, best-laid plans, marriages, families (I could go on – teaching the meaning of the word ‘eternity’  . . .).