The snow is beautiful, however it makes it difficult to get much work done on the lawns.

Yes, if you’re a country music fan, you’ve heard the popular Dierks Bently song.  That’s not my story however.  It’s mid-February, and I’m hunkered down in a log cabin in Northwest Arkansas sitting by the fire.  There’s snow on the ground with icicles hanging off the roof as I look out at the view over Beaver Lake.  With the weather so cold and snowy, we’ve not been able to do much in the way of real work at LawnAmerica, so my wife and I got out of town before the latest snowstorm hit for a few days to do just sit by the fire, read, and relax.  And with the stress of knowing that every day my staff and our 22 trucks sat in the warehouse instead of out working out on lawns doing weed-control in Tulsa, I was losing about $15,000 per day, maybe a change of scenery would help me to focus on other things and relieve my mind of my worries. 

Most of the books I've read on the Appalachian Trail

And so I’ve been catching , up on my reading, with both an AT book (my 13^th) under my belt, and a business book on marketing through the internet with blogs and such.  Who would have thought.  As far as the AT books, the ones I’d recommend the most are Bill Bryson’s “A Walk in the Woods”, along with “AWOL on the Appalachian Trail”, and “A Walk for Sunshine”.  Some of the others–I could write a better book I believe. 

I don’t know how, and I don’t understand how it could happen now, but my lower back is all of a sudden killing me.   It’s only a little over three months, and I’ll be heading out for Springer Mountain in Georgia to begin my journey—2,175 miles of torturous walking with a backpack on.  What were I thinkin’?  The way I feel right now, I could barely go out to gather the firewood and bring it inside.  It’s like there’s a knife stabbing me in my back every time I even bend down.  The way I feel right now, I’m asking myself, “What am I thinking?”  Can I really do this?

Since I announced to my staff just a few months ago what I felt compelled to do, we’ve set up our website, told thousands of people about my AT2010 compassionate journey, and are currently well on our way to reaching our contribution goals.   We’ve barely begun to promote the AT2010, www.AT2010Tulsa.com, and have surpassed the $30,000 mark towards our goal of raising $100,000 for five Tulsa charities.  We’ve committed to the Little Lighthouse, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Young Life, and added Folds of Honor as a last-minute change in place of John 3:16.

I’ve been energized by the response of every person I’ve shared with about the AT2010.  I was  somewhat concerned about how customers, employees, family, and the public would perceive this project of backpacking the entire Appalachian Trail.  Would they think I’m crazy, or selfish for doing this?  Other than just few family members who thought I was nuts, I’ve been pleasantly surprised as to how it’s been received.  Most by far think it’s great, and are excited about me going on this adventure, while doing something great for our community and people who need a little compassion.   We’ve secured media sponsorships with the local ABC affiliate in Tulsa, I’m getting speaking opportunities, and we’ve raised $30,000.  And I feel that this really is a calling for me—that God has blessed me with certain talents and passions which I can use for good, to help others, and to further His cause. 

But right now, the reality of my 56-year old back tightening up really worries me.  My bad arthritic hip—I can deal with through medication and determination.  A back is a different story.  My wife thinks it’s a lower back spasm.  I don’t know, I just feel like a “spas” now, that term my older brother used to call me when we were growing up. 

I’m thinking, “What did I get myself into?”  I’m committed, I’m pumped, and I’m in the process of getting physically ready to go in a few months though consistent workouts at the gym.  Now this.  Where did this back issue come from?  

I could have quietly made the decision to hike the AT, without raising money, without promotion, and just done it for me and had fun.  And if it crashed to the ground, or if I failed to complete it, as 85% of those who start out do, then it’s no big deal.  Hardly anyone except those closest to me would know, and it would be no sweat off my back.  At least I would have given it the old college try. 

But what have I done?  I’ve committed—to thousands of folks already!  I can’t fail, especially before I even strap on my backpack and start hiking on the trail.  I would be perceived as such a klutz and a wimp if I had to back out.  What about the fundraising, and the money raised?  My heart and my mind are telling me I have to get ready, and I have to go, and I must make it to Mt. Katahdin in Maine by October 1^st.  Right now though, my back is telling me that I’m crazy.

I’ve got to believe though that’s it’s just a little setback, and an opportunity to have faith that it will all work out.  I just got up to put another log on the fire, and it was a struggle to even stand up to straighten my back out and bend over to get a dang log!  How am I going to do this?  I guess it’s just a reminder that with faith, anything is possible.  And a little help from modern medicine must be in order also, so I’ll be reluctantly heading to the doctor tomorrow for him to check things out and see what the deal is with my back. 

I’m telling myself it’s just one of those deals.  It will get better, and I’ll be fine, and ready to charge up Springer Mountain at the end of May.  It’s just not looking real good right now.

And it’s not looking real great right now from a business standpoint for Tulsa lawncare companies, as I’m waiting for the snow to melt, and another storm to pass, before we can finally get back out to work.  We do have a deadline to hit, with getting our customers serviced by the end of March, and adding hundreds of new customers during our busy sales season at LawnAmerica.  At least I hope and plan on adding those hundreds of new customers in spite of the economic reality of the recession we are still in.   

I’m reminded, that without Faith, it’s impossible to please God.  Just please—help my aching back!