Clear the Forest

One year ago, we inked the agreement to buy a non-existent house on one of the last lots in a secluded neighborhood. Shawn and I fell in love with the site though we knew the homestead would require much heavy work to untangle the brambles, beat back the vines, and remove the damaged trees. Some parts of the one-acre lot were simply not navigable due to the jungle. We watched and dreamed, and finally, in mid-December the land and home became ours. After two weeks of unpacking and putting the inside into a livable state (those who have moved understand) we abandoned the cardboard boxes and focused on clearing the land, an endeavor that required months of effort.

Under that rough exterior we found rich soil and a bonanza of tree species including wild cherry, hickory, sugar maple, red maple, striped maple, loblolly pine, sweet gum, and at least 3 species of oak which I have not yet identified. We pulled the devouring vines out of the branches, pruned dead limbs, and established garden paths through the shade below. I bought a chain saw (my first), and as the dead trees fell, I wondered how I made it this far in life without one.

How refreshing it is to navigate the rise to the back of the lot and walk under those trees where most days we find a breeze and temperatures several degrees below that of the lawn surrounding the house.

Shawn requested garden benches in strategic locations, and two are now in place with a third in the planning stage on my desk.

One of those benches is coupled with a small table that Granddaughter Fern helped me build. She’s painted ladybugs all over and what better insect to add to the garden?

Grandson August had claimed a nearby dirt pile and demanded that I leave his dirt alone and create a moat around it to protect it. Done! Amazing how easily and quickly children see potential and raise their flags of ownership.

I often wonder about the children of Israel and the way the conquest of Jericho seemed to fizzle, especially as Joshua neared the end of his tenure. Some of the saddest words I’ve ever contemplated appear early in the book of Judges to describe Israel as the older generation who trampled the desert as children and conquered the land as adults dropped from the scene.

All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.

Judges 2:10 NASB

The cause of the waning desire to conquer was not any limitations on God’s power. He had promised the land, and He delivered. But He expected the Israelites to do their part. It’s called work, and it is not always pleasant or easy. It generates sweat and scrapes and bruises, and oh, those aching muscles. As I work thorough my stretching exercises each morning, I find myself thanking God that I can bend and stretch and dig and pull. He gave the abilities, but He wasn’t about to clear Lot 3 for me. If I wanted the garden, I had to claim it.

The sons of Joseph had raised a complaint to Joshua that the portion of land allotted them was too small to support their numbers. They demanded more. The context seems to indicate that they sought easy pickings—cleared land, plowed fields, paved streets, well-kept houses, and of course 1 Gig Internet over fiber (Yes, I miss that in this location!).

Then the sons of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me only one lot and one portion for an inheritance, since I am a numerous people whom the LORD has thus far blessed?” Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up to the forest and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.” The sons of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the valley land have chariots of iron, both those who are in Beth-shean and its towns and those who are in the valley of Jezreel.” Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, saying, “You are a numerous people and have great power; you shall not have one lot only, but the hill country shall be yours. For though it is a forest, you shall clear it, and to its farthest borders it shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, even though they have chariots of iron and though they are strong.”

Joshua 17:14-18 NASB (Emphasis added)

Joshua’s response is classic. Quit complaining, get your shovel, ax and machete and start clearing as much space as you want. I’ll confess there have been days when I have found that the extreme labor of converting Lot 3 from forest to garden has kicked my tail. But Shawn and I have a shared vision, a dream, a longterm view of what this place can be, and as long as God gives us strength, we’ll be whacking weeds, turning soil, and installing plants.

Facing a challenge? See some potential but the reality of hard work prevents reaching the goal? Folks, we simply must grab our tools and drive back the forest. It won’t clear itself.