Watching a lawn grow

One of the first things we did when we came to live in this cottage, in September, 2012 was  to make an effort to grow a lawn on two sides of the cottage. The ground was not conducive for a lawn as the soil was clayish mixed with fine stones. We tried to remove the stones as much as we could. We used the lawn grass we brought from our garden at Pondicherry. After three months of efforts, we are still waiting for the grass to grow and cover the soil. 

This is the fifth time we are growing a lawn during thirty years of our stay at  Sewagram, Chennai,  Vellore and Pondicherry. Each experience was different from the previous one.  

This time, the challenge of was about the timing of watering the grass. Our domestic helper after she finished her regular work around mid day used to water the grass, when the soil was was hot with day temperature around 35 degrees celsius. The result was generation of warmth on the soil with the sudden cooling of soil with water releasing heat  leading to the drying of the grass. It took over a month for us to recognise this. A gardener who was familiar with soil conditions and humidity and temperature at this season mentioned to us that freshly planted grass is most sensitive to soil temperature and it is better to water the grass early in the morning or late in the evening. This  caution is not be necessary after the grass has taken roots well. 

It is one thing to have a desire or a plan and yet another thing to see it happen. There is a prudent and  'profitable' way of doing what we are called to  do. 

I picked up this lesson from a boy who visited me for consultation. He obviously had learning needs and was struggling to cope with his tenth standard lessons. He worked out that, how much ever he worked, his grade did not exceed 45 percent for the last two years. Instead, he prepared himself to be chosen for teams of school athletics and games, which fetched him individual prizes and team success. This would hopefully make him eligible  him to be considered in the sports quota for higher education. A prudent and 'profitable' way of balancing between studies and extra-curricular activities.

We arrive where we want to,  when we choose the destination and the route to reach it.

M.C.Mathew(text an photo)