A Man is Only as Good as His Wood

by Stephanie F. Earls


Every year about this time we get cord wood delivered. We stack it and let it dry over the summer so that by the coming fall and winter the wood will be ready to burn and keep us warm.  For years, as a kid longing to be free, I groaned when the "wood guy" would show up knowing my dad would be telling me to stack. But as I got older things changed and I realized a freedom in the stacking.

In a time of constant change and a world heavy on talk and theory there is something supremely satisfying about having a job to do that gets done.  And what's more, a job so connected to the earth, carrying her gifts for our eventual nourishment.  There is no question whether you are stacking or not. There is no question whether you are holding a log and placing it on the stack. There is no question whether the job is done or not.  It is very, excuse the pun, cut and dry. 

This morning as I stacked in the rain, bird song and water on leaves began to echo in a noise of nature that was so loud it was quiet. I could hear everything and nothing all at the same time, capped with melodic thuds as each log was put in its place. I felt a kinship with nature and our roots as people, imagining and enjoying how primal it feels to carry wood, stack it, set each piece in its place to find stability and organization.  It felt complete, putting effort toward something that will so concretely nurture us in the coming year. I felt connected, it all felt connected.  For all the years I cursed my dad for his "old" ways of heating the house, I have grown to feel gratitude and reverence knowing just like our ancient ancestors, we will have fire: heat and light when we need it, independent of certain modern conveniences. 

It got me thinking about people who dedicate their lives to their work, connected to the earth, and especially the "wood guy," Mike, whose motto I used for the name of this post. I appreciate his combined grounded sense of humor and light heartedness about a job that takes serious work (there's the lesson for us all!). The more ambiguous some relationships, the world or spiritual quests sometimes feel, the more deeply I appreciate that this guy (and anyone who does their work) just does his job. He is grounded, his work stands for itself.  Likewise, the more deeply I appreciate the chance to do jobs like this which are either done or they are not done.

And as I work, the more I realize how deeply our spirit and our growth is connected to what we do, our hands-on experience.  I revel in things that are done when they are done: stacking wood, laundry, cooking a meal, teaching a class. These are the things that seem mundane but are the gateway to the spirit. They are what nourish us. When everything feels like it sucks there is nothing like stacking cord wood in the rain to kick yourself in the ass.  And whether it is stacking wood or doing whatever job it is you do, it's really simple...when you get stuck, do your work...fold the clothes, teach your class, wash the floors, drive your truck, hug your kids (or your wife or friend), write your book, take your run. 

You're only as good as your wood....in other words, do your job.  (I hear you all having fun with this one...) 


There is something to be said for real work: hands-on, concrete, do it or don't do it, work; tied to the earth, connected, grounded, undeniable. This is what keeps us going. It is not theory, it's real. It's prayer in practice, it's meditation in motion. These are the places in our lives, these are the actions that keep us honest, clear our mind and remind us we are alive.  


So, how good is your wood?