Sunday after church I met with my counselor. Mr. Stihl. As in Mr. Stihl the chainsaw.
He’s not a conversant guy. He’s a tad loud. But he’s great at cutting to the heart of the issue. (Sorry.)
We spent three hours together. Trimming oaks. Clearing out uprooted cedars. Preparing trees and game trails for next year.
Nothing in my head. Not many “what if’s” whirling around. Just in-the-moment “I think that branch needs to go.”
Incredibly refreshing and relaxing in a sweating sort of way.
Not sure if your mind and my mind are wired similarly.
Mine tends to forecast into the future in silent mode. Joy and fears blend around like a Vitamix 5200 to where little bits of both intermingle. Worry easily mixes into all of life coloring portions in ways unaware.
Upon arriving back inside I proclaimed how much fun I had. Outside. Getting stuff done. Manual labor. Not thinking beyond the moment. Mr. Stihl kept me focused on the branch in front of me.
Not thinking beyond the moment limits the burden to right now and what is. It denies tomorrow and what may be the ability to overwhelm.
David the psalm writer said it like this: “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” (Psalm 94.19)
Our Creator molds His consolations to our particular personalities.
Trimming branches off of a century-old oak with Mr. Stihl gave my heart a break from its worries. It also gave me a chance to thank God for outdoors, trees, and a chainsaw.
It was a nice sabbath.