This time of year, blowing leaves seems to be a never-ending task. I live on four wooded acres. I spend more time blowing leaves in the Fall than cutting grass throughout the growing season. “Blow leaves” is one of the items on the to-do list my wife wrote out for me today.
I’ve been a homeowner long enough to know to blow the leaves, cut the grass, and clean the gutters. All of which can be drudgery.
I’ve discovered, however, that when my wife writes these activities on a to-do list, they take on a new significance. I’m doing them for another person. I am doing them out of love. With love in the equation, drudgery becomes a joy.
It wasn’t always this way. I used to resent the to-do list. The bad angel on my left shoulder would whisper in my ear, “Who does she think she is telling YOU what to do?” I’ve since silenced the little demon, repressed my ego, and surrendered to doing everything she writes on the list (almost).
I implore, “Please write out a list for me.” (No kidding.) Each day, I check off the items enthusiastically. I look at my list this morning and she’s given me three ways to grow in love. “Remove the Carolina Wren’s nest off our porch. Fix the water fountain the leaves have plugged up. Blow leaves (again).” It’s going to be a great day.
Saint Therese of Lisieux said, “Without love, even the most brilliant deeds count as nothing.” (Story of a Soul, Ch VIII) To my situation, Saint Therese might say, “Without love, even doing a magnificent job blowing leaves counts as nothing.” Her protégé, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, summed it up this way, “Do the little things, but do them with great love.”
Since I left my full-time job at the Catholic Conference Center, my to-do list scope occasionally expands into other areas. New items that haven’t been part of our usual division of labor appear on my list. I guess my wife is thinking since I’m not going to work, I have plenty of time (hah!). With this new-found commitment to love the to-do list, I happily receive the occasional, “Do a load of laundry. Empty the dishwasher. Give the dog his medicine.”
Saint John of the Cross speaks about my to-do list in this way. “Where there is no love, pour love in, and you will draw love out.” (Letter to Prioress of Segovia, July 6, 1591)
How might you ‘pour love in’ and ‘draw love out’ of your to-do list today?
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