Preparation for Consecration: Day 3

There is nothing like taking a tractor out and cutting grass after a few weeks of Springtime rain has nourished our land.

The grass itself has a sweet perfume when it is newly cut, and it wafts up to my nose as I walk along, watching my sons run the tractors over the South half of our property.

The grass lies like hay in the North Texas sun, drying for use in the compost heap or for mulch.

The tractor forms a kind of isolation booth, as the engine (along with the mower blades) form a wall of sound which cuts the rest of the world from ones reverie. Some of my best thoughts have come while riding on a tractor.

It is a good time to pray, too.

All you have to do is stay along the border of the uncut grass, following the contours of the field, shooting the cut grass out onto the area where the grass has already been cut.

I invite anyone to come and ride one of our tractors. Come and enjoy mowing my property on one of these mild Texas Spring days. We will provide all the Gatorade or water you like. You pay for the gas, though.

Today's meditation is from Matthew 7:1-14:

1. "Stop judging, that you may not be judged.

2. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.

3. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?

4. How can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove that splinter from your eye,' while the wooden beam is in your eye?

5. You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother's eye.

6. "Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

7. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

8. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread,

10. or a snake when he asks for a fish?

11. If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.

12. "Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.

13. "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many.

14. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few."

- from the USCCB website