OUTDOOR TRUTHS: Refusing Neglect

By Gary Miller

The last time I mowed my grass, I think it had reached about 10 inches tall. It didn’t look that bad, but I had let it go. The time before that, I mowed but didn’t take time to weedeat. And the bushes around my house need a little shaping. A few of them need elimination. There are some holes in my yard as well. They have appeared where trees used to be - trees that had been cut down. Now the roots have rotted and left some unwanted cavities that need to be filled. 

I had planned to clean the garage so I could get at least one car in there, but I put that off for another, more suitable time. The same goes for my storage shed. I have been meaning to do an extreme makeover on it for the last couple of years. Add shelves and hangers and replace the door.

Maybe it will happen this year.

Maybe not.

The fence needs staining. It’s looking a little sun-parched. I need to replace a few boards as well. I’m not sure when I’ll get to that. And let’s not talk about the inside of my house. There’s enough there to keep me busy for months. Blinds hung. Doors painted. A few pieces of tile replaced where they have released their hold from my kitchen counter.

Age and atrophy go hand in hand.

And what goes for a house of brick and mortar goes also for a house of skin and bones.

And that’s why I went fishing.

Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 24 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Stay updated on Outdoor Truths each week by subscribing at Outdoortruths.org.