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- Aug 1, 2001
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Are we crazy about lawns? - God talks to St. Francis
Imagine the conversation the Creator might have had with St. Francis on the
subject of lawns:
God: "Frank, you know all about gardens and nature, what in the world is
going on down there on Earth? What happened to all the dandelions, violets,
thistles and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance
garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and
multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long lasting blossoms attracts
butterflies, honeybees, and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast
garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles."
St. Francis: "It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites.
They started calling your flowers weeds and went to great lengths to kill
them and replace them with grass."
God: "Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract
butterflies, birds, and bees, only grubs and sod worms, it's temperamental
with temperatures. Do these suburbanites really want all that grass growing
there?"
St. Francis: "Apparently so Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and
keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning
any other plant that crops up in the lawn. "
God: "The spring rains and warm weather probably make the grass grow really
fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy."
St. Francis: "Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little they cut
it, sometimes twice a week."
God: "They cut it? Do they bale it like hay?"
St. Francis: "Not exactly Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in
bags."
God: "They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?"
St. Francis: "No sir. Just the opposite. They pay to throw it away."
God: "Now let me get this straight. They fertilize the grass so it will
grow, and when it does grow, they cut it off and then pay to throw it
away?"
St. Francis: "Yes sir.
God: "These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on
the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them
a lot of work!"
St. Francis: "You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops
growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they
can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it."
God: "What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees That was a sheer
stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the
spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall
to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and
protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to
enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life."
St. Francis: "You had better sit down Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a
new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and
pay to have them hauled away."
God: "No way! What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the
winter and to keep the soil moist and loose?
St. Francis: "After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something
which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it
around in the place of leaves."
God: "And where do they get this mulch?"
St.: Francis: "They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch."
God: "Enough. I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine,
you're in charge of the arts, what movie have you scheduled for us
tonight?"
St. Catherine: "Dumb and Dumber, Lord. It's a real stupid movie about..."
God: "Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis."
Imagine the conversation the Creator might have had with St. Francis on the
subject of lawns:
God: "Frank, you know all about gardens and nature, what in the world is
going on down there on Earth? What happened to all the dandelions, violets,
thistles and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect, no-maintenance
garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and
multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long lasting blossoms attracts
butterflies, honeybees, and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast
garden of colors by now. But all I see are these green rectangles."
St. Francis: "It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites.
They started calling your flowers weeds and went to great lengths to kill
them and replace them with grass."
God: "Grass? But it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract
butterflies, birds, and bees, only grubs and sod worms, it's temperamental
with temperatures. Do these suburbanites really want all that grass growing
there?"
St. Francis: "Apparently so Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and
keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning
any other plant that crops up in the lawn. "
God: "The spring rains and warm weather probably make the grass grow really
fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy."
St. Francis: "Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little they cut
it, sometimes twice a week."
God: "They cut it? Do they bale it like hay?"
St. Francis: "Not exactly Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in
bags."
God: "They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?"
St. Francis: "No sir. Just the opposite. They pay to throw it away."
God: "Now let me get this straight. They fertilize the grass so it will
grow, and when it does grow, they cut it off and then pay to throw it
away?"
St. Francis: "Yes sir.
God: "These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on
the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them
a lot of work!"
St. Francis: "You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops
growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they
can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it."
God: "What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees That was a sheer
stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the
spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall
to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and
protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves form compost to
enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life."
St. Francis: "You had better sit down Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a
new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and
pay to have them hauled away."
God: "No way! What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the
winter and to keep the soil moist and loose?
St. Francis: "After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something
which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it
around in the place of leaves."
God: "And where do they get this mulch?"
St.: Francis: "They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch."
God: "Enough. I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine,
you're in charge of the arts, what movie have you scheduled for us
tonight?"
St. Catherine: "Dumb and Dumber, Lord. It's a real stupid movie about..."
God: "Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis."
