For several years I was the primary operator of a portable saw mill at our community farm. In the process, I gained a great appreciation for the beauty and versatility of wood. From what I milled, utilitarian structures like goat barns were built, but also more complicated and aesthetically pleasing structures as well such as the Farm’s Wacky Shack (if you don’t know what that is, you really need to find out). Several homes on the island feature fireplace mantles from wood from the farm, and there are many more homes that have beautiful cutting boards and serving trays that took advantage of variety of wood grains found among the indigenous species of trees on the island. Some of the scrap hardwood became excellent firewood, providing warmth, and even some of it made its way into the various smokers on the island, flavoring our barbeque.
I also appreciate the trees that we have on our island. We have towering pines, majestic oaks, and some of the largest magnolia trees in the State. They provide shade for us, and shelter for countless birds that call Daufuskie home for some or all of the year. When it comes time to take one down, it may well provide an opportunity to create something new from the sawmill. As a provider of raw materials, it is hard to beat the trees that grow here.
What I haven’t gained an appreciation for is pollen. We’re starting to see the first layers of pollen falling from the trees and coating everything below. It is nowhere near as bad as it will be in another month or so, when we will be able to leave footprints in the pollen and watch dense pollen clouds blow down the street, but it is still unpleasant. Eyes will be itching, noses running, and cars and carts will need lots of washing. It really is remarkable how messy the pollen gets around here, since we are so blessed with an extensive tree canopy.
It would be great if there wasn’t any pollen that we would have to deal with. However, no pollen means no trees, and no trees means no wood, and no wood means no structures or cutting boards or smoke rings in our barbeque. Frankly, I don’t think I’m willing to give up those things, and I suspect most others aren’t either. So, if we want to have the end products, we have to put up with the process that creates them.
Therein is our issue today. Our focus tends to be on the end product, with less focus or understanding about the process, and quite frequently there are parts of the process that are messy, painful, or otherwise unpleasant. For whatever reason, society today seems to tell us that those messy, painful or unpleasant things are to be avoided, but the truth is that they are necessary. Whether it be the process of natural resource development, or personal growth, or development of relationships, there will always be parts of the process that we might prefer to avoid. Yet if we want the beautiful and enjoyable end product, we have to have the entire process, and not just the parts that we like.
I don’t appreciate pollen, but I do love the trees and flowers and wonderful things that pollen leads to, so bring it on. May we face those other unpleasant but necessary things in our life with a similar mindset.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron