It’s Not That Bad—You’re Just Looking the Wrong Way!

I want a new mower. Specifically, a Scag V-Ride II, 46-inch deck, stand-on model. It’s fast, efficient, and let’s be honest—pretty fun to look at.

But here’s the thing: there’s nothing actually wrong with my current mower. It’s only a few years old. I bought it after doing all the research, convinced that its 30-inch width and self-propelled design would save me time and effort. It starts on the first pull, cuts evenly, and doesn’t give me any trouble.

Still, more times than I’d like to admit, I come in after mowing, sweaty and unsatisfied, muttering that I’ll be buying a new one before the next cut. I complain that it takes too long, that it’s underpowered, that the gas tank is too small.

Then came today.

This morning, I had the privilege of helping mow a widow’s lawn. I was told she had a mower—and she did. But the power-assisted wheels were broken, which meant pushing it the old-fashioned way. The Texas heat was already climbing, and even though her yard was mostly flat, every pass with that mower took effort. I finished the job grateful that I could help, but also very aware of something else:

My mower is just fine. More than fine, really. It’s self-propelled. It’s wider than most. It starts easily. It saves time and energy.

So why all the complaints before?

The problem wasn’t my mower. The problem was where I was looking. I was comparing up instead of looking around. I was fixated on what I didn’t have rather than appreciating what I did.

And honestly, the same thing happens in the church.

We grumble about the music not being our style, the sermon being too long, the temperature being too cold or too warm, the programs not being what they “used to be.” We talk about needing “something better”—a new building, a new pastor, a better system, a bigger vision. But maybe, just maybe, the issue isn’t with what we have. Maybe the issue is with our perspective.

Sometimes, we just need to get our hands dirty, serve someone else, and take a fresh look at what God has already given us.

There’s a passage that brings this into focus. Philippians 2:14-15 says,

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” (NKJV)

Complaining dims our witness. Gratitude makes it shine.

The truth is, God has already equipped His church. He’s given us His Spirit, His Word, and one another. Could we grow? Sure. Should we strive to improve? Absolutely. But let’s not miss the blessing in front of us because our eyes are locked on what’s just beyond.

Before you buy a new mower—or ask for a new whatever—maybe it’s time to look again.