Tuesday I purchased a weed trimmer with a lawn edger attachment. Later, with shovel in hand, I was digging around where I knew the curb had last been seen, uncovering a few places in preparation to start edging the lawn. Lola, our friendly neighborhood chatterbox, wandered by and asked, “What’cha doin’?”
“I’m uncovering the edge of the lawn where it meets the sidewalk,” I told her.
“Why?” I knew the question was coming before she asked it. I paused briefly, wondering how what I was doing could make any sense to a 6-year-old.
“To make it look prettier,” I answered.
“Did Kay ask you to do this?” (The neighbor kids call my wife “Kay”. It’s easier to pronounce than Kiyoko.)
“No,” I replied absently. “I just decided to myself”. Then I asked, “Don’t you like things to look prettier?”
“I like things just the way they are,” she stated matter-of-factly. Then she hurried off.
I looked at my yard.
We live on a corner lot with lots of edges where sidewalk meets lawn. As far as I can remember, I have not edged my lawn in the 15 plus years I have lived here. No one has ever complained about the overgrowth along the curbs. Now I had just spent $200 on fancy trimming equipment and face hours of work to make it all look “pretty”, and with a single simple statement, a child has just given me pause to wonder why am I doing this.
My thoughts turned to all the time, money, and energy we spend on making our yards, our homes, and ourselves look pretty. I wondered what the rest of the world thinks of Americans. When they see our lifestyles in articles and movies, on YouTube and the internet, how does all this come across to outsiders? Do they see selfishness and conceit? Recalling the animated movie, The Breadwinner, gave perspective to my thoughts. When outsiders see our privileged lives and then witness our petty quarrels over inconsequential things, is it any wonder there is increasing anger and resentment of what some call “white privilege”?
I looked down at the grass hanging over the curb. I determined to finish the job I started, and don’t intend to feel guilty about improving the appearance of my yard. But I hope to do it with a better perspective of gratitude for my blessed circumstances. I hope that I will recognize and embrace the opportunities to serve when and where I can to contribute to making this world a better place. It needs it.