Worth the Effort

I cut roughly six cords of firewood a year. It is not so I can wear my self-appointed nickname, "Man Mountain Dave." We use about six cords of firewood a year to heat our home and this work is a necessity. When it’s cool outside, the saw is working well, my body is relatively healthy, and the trail into the woods is not too muddy, I enjoy the experience for about thirty minutes, then it is just hard work. The cutting, loading, hauling, and unloading are not the end of the activity. Splitting and stacking go with the territory. So does maintaining your chainsaw. Then there is taking the wood to the basement, hauling the ashes out of the basement, and keeping the chimney clean. But for me, the end product is worth the effort.

I have talked to several guys who get excited about cutting firewood. It appeals to their manly instincts so they buy a saw and all the other necessary equipment, put on a flannel shirt, and head into the “wilderness.” Their Paul Bunyan experience lasts for a day or two and then the saw ends up as a bargain at a yard sale or sits in the garage until it grows mold. These are the type of fellows who like the idea of cutting wood but are not too thrilled with the reality of the experience.

Liking the idea of something but not liking the experience or the cost of it is not unique to cutting firewood. It applies to many things in life including a person’s willingness to live a life of faith. Many like the idea of walking the walk but after counting the cost and perhaps paying a price, their faith is relegated to a corner of their lives. We cannot lose heart and quit. We must realize that the end product is well worth the effort.