I Got Served

I drove the short distance between work and home in the middle of the day for a quick errand. As I pulled out of the driveway, I waved to a neighbor who was mowing another neighbor’s yard. I imagine he was glad the weather was nice enough to get out of the house. He was social distancing just fine all alone on his mower. I don’t know him well but he offered to mow for me shortly after I moved in last year when the summer evenings after work were stifling. I appreciated his offer, but I enjoyed getting outside after a full day at work. He always waves and smiles anytime I see him, and one day last week was no exception.

I planned to mow over the weekend. It doesn’t seem time to start mowing, but my lawn said otherwise. Some years, I’ve started mowing in March, so it’s not too early, but perhaps it’s just the oddity of this year that seems to confuse so many schedules and routines.

I got home that night and pulled into the garage. I must have been preoccupied, because I didn’t notice until a couple hours later when I walked onto the back patio that…someone had mowed my lawn.

I don’t know for sure if my neighbor did it, but I suspect…

Here we are in the middle of a shelter in place. Like many other essential workers (and not nearly as essential as most), I pull out of my driveway onto my quiet street every morning. I limit as much contact as I can, but since I’m out, I try to run simple errands for others. I try to consider and serve others in little ways each day.

And that day, I got served.

I can’t go knock on the neighbor’s door and tell him thanks due to social distancing. But I will watch for him and holler my thanks—or find out my suspicion was wrong.

Every single one of us can serve in some way. It doesn’t have to be as time-consuming as mowing. It doesn’t have to be outside the walls of your house. Communication with others is easier now than ever before. Use older methods or newer methods. Compassionate communication is timeless.

Be generous, humble, gentle, and patient.

Serve well.