The giant oak tree that casts half of its massive trunk over our yard has, without fail, produced an abundant crop of oaknuts every year since we moved here in 2003. It faithfully blankets our lawn with them at this time of year. Honestly, gathering and discarding them every day is a rather bothersome and tiring chore, but I consider it a form of exercise graciously permitted by God, so I keep at it. After all, having something to do as one grows older is a blessing, and I have no intention of complaining.

Still, I must admit—every now and then, I’m tempted to scoop up a handful of oak nuts and toss them right onto my neighbor Dmitri’s lawn.