I enjoy a well-kept lawn. My efforts in the backyard are stymied by the two dogs, who own and very loudly protect their backyard turf. It is their kingdom. Both have archaeological projects going on at present. Their holes are immense. The lawn mower does strange things when I hit one of the dog’s holes.

I have no such challenge in the front yard. Mowing the yard is a task that I enjoy. The project happens on a weekly basis. At the end of the project, I can look at the lawn and see that I have finished. So much of my life is incomplete.

The joke is that ministers only work on Sunday mornings and then only for a few minutes. The truth is we work all the time, and our job is never finished. I drove to the office before the sun rose this morning and made a list of the calls I didn’t make yesterday or needed to make this afternoon. We live in a state of incompleteness. (Another article for another time.) Mowing the yard is a task that I can complete.

Right now, even when I have completed the task, my lawn leaves something to be desired. Many of the lawns in the Gibsland metroplex have the same problem. You see, in Gibsland, we have the Jonquil Jubilee on the first weekend in March. As a participant in the Jubilee, I have planted Jonquils along the sidewalk and in random places in the yard. This year they popped up in several random places.

The thing about Jonquils is that you don’t cut them down until Mother’s Day weekend. They need sunlight to keep the bulb healthy and to help them bloom for the 2026 Jonquil Jubilee. The committee looks unfavorably upon Jonquils that don’t bloom!

If you drive to Gibsland you will see the remainder of the jonquils. The people in town know what these spindly plants are, but visitors to our fair city might think we don’t know how to operate a lawn mower. The good news is that the time to cut them down is getting close. The jonquils are not weeds, but they sure look like it to the untrained eye.

So, my lawn looks messy even though I am mowing it regularly. If you come by after Mother’s Day, you will really see a difference. Also, all the lawn people mowing professionally will be happy that finally the Jonquils can be cut. Until then, don’t judge us if we are helping the plants get ready for the big show in ’26.

I remind you of the words of Jesus, “Judge not lest ye be judged.”

It applies to lawns and to human behavior.