Wise Energy Use

This post was not written to discredit our local electric company. Reference to the Home Energy Report was solely for illustrative purposes.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.– Isaiah 40:29

I ripped open the envelope from the electric company, and there it was again, another Home Energy Report. I remembered once asking my mother if she received these reports. 

“Yes,” she had said with disgust, “I don’t like them. It’s like a report card I didn’t ask for.” 

I had to chuckle. I could see where she was coming from. 

Each report includes an assessment entitled, “Your Electricity Use at a Glance,” with an arrow pointing to your “grade” on a bar scale. Mine was marked fair, not good, and certainly not great. Beneath my grade was an explanation of the assessment: “You likely used more this period due to changes in your home or energy habits.” Isn’t that obvious? 

And as if that weren’t enough, the report also includes a part on how you compare to others with a bar graph showing energy use by efficient homes, similar homes, and yourself. I had used significantly more than both of those categories. Of course I understand the purpose of this report. The electric company is promoting energy conservation. Tips to reduce home energy use are also given.  

Busy as a Beaver: What trail of evidence are you leaving?

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

—John 13:35

“See that?” my father gestured toward a tree trunk sharpened like the tip of a pencil, then toward another limb gnawed on both sides.

It sure looked like evidence of beaver building to me. Then Dad led the group of us family members to the water’s edge, its level higher than I had seen in a while. He pointed to the dam.

I took in the scene, my eyes scanning the glassy surface, punctuated with a mound of limbs and leaves, my ears tuned to the relaxing fall of the water. Peace washed over me. A nice reprieve from the busyness of life.

Drawn closer, I stepped to the edge and followed the flow of the stream, my feet crunching dry leaves and crackly twigs. Keeping watch for obstacles that could cause a stumble, I caught glance of a trail of wood chips leading to the chewed remains of a branch. I lowered my eyes to inspect the pile, marveling at the work of the creatures. The evidence was all around; the beavers had built a home. And I was standing in their domicile.