From The Storyteller
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April 29, 2019, Think
“I think that’s deep enough. What do you think?” Rototiller had done its job on the grass where the flower garden will be. Elaine gently reminds me, “We need to get the roots out or the grass will simply grow back.” Having driven the rototiller for well over an hour I repeat, “I think that’s deep enough.” It is now three weeks later, and we are on our hands and knees digging up the sprouting grass by the roots. No, it was not deep enough. Kneeling and digging in the dirt strangely reminds me of time I ran out of gas between rural Texas towns. The price of gas in the first town seemed high, and since I was sure my truck could make that next town, I didn’t stop. It also helps me think of the two extra gallons of mixed paint I own, because I bought the exact amount I thought I needed. Dirt digging also brought to mind the advice from a carpenter friend, “Measure twice cut once”. This advice finally made sense when, thinking I’d measured right the first time, I could not add back the extra two inches I’d cut off. Running out of gas, two extra gallons of paint, two inches short, and digging grass roots by hand are not particularly major life changing events. They do however point to a simple truth that I’ve had to learn the hard way - “What I think, does not change what is”. Specifically, my opinion (what I think) is always right, until I’m forced to deal with “what is”. The power of this truth has me on my knees digging in the dirt, while recalling my bride’s gentle words, “If we don’t dig deep enough, the grass roots will grow back.” Moral: Thinking it’s so, don’t make it so. |