Why I Care: Willson McBurney

More Than the Sum

The year was 1977 when my dad, one Sunday afternoon, said, “We need to find something for you to do to earn some money”. Shortly after that, Willson’s Lawn Care was up and running. To this day I say that I put myself though college, working hard every night after school and during the long hot summers. But I do realize that I was subsidized by my folks with money and lots of prayer.

Another vivid recollection I have was of another Sunday afternoon discussion with my Dad. “What do you think you’d like to study in College?” I am sure he had booklets from Indiana University and Geneva College as well, but the discussion centered on what had become somewhat of an agrarian lifestyle for me. I decided that I would study Agricultural Engineering at Purdue University.

So in the fall of 1983 I started my next career as a student at Purdue in Agricultural Engineering. About halfway through my first semester, I realized that I needed to be good at math to be an agricultural engineer. Who would have known? I’m sure my Mom and Dad did, but they let me sign up anyway. I say anyway because it was my mother who would painstakingly review math flash cards with me all summer long when I was young. The memories of those flash card drills are still a bit painful.

So, after some consultation with my folks and my academic advisor at Purdue, I decided to take a horticulture class in the Horticulture Building on the other side of campus. In the Hort building I was exposed to the profession of Landscape Architecture. I was intrigued by the thought that I could study about dirt and plants and learn how to design and build beautiful places. And not much math was required. Cool.

I’ve been practicing landscape architecture in Central Florida since 1987 and have been a Florida Registered Landscape Architect since 1991. In that same time I have met and married my beautiful wife, been blessed with two adorable and rascally children and have had the opportunity to serve millions of people in this profession.

And now that I have had some time to reflect on the last 30 years, I realize, very clearly now, that God’s hand was guiding me to this profession right from the start, through the wisdom and gentle guidance of my Mom and Dad.

There are countless professions that can claim the charge to love this world and make it a better place. It now seems to me that landscape architects truly have the job to create memorable spaces for all types of people to enjoy and to do it responsibly, being trained to be sensitive to the amazing flora and fauna that God put here for us to enjoy and subdue.

Subduing. .. It has been difficult for me to be a part of development teams that will remove every trace of vegetation that has existed for hundreds of years. I feel fortunate to be in the position, however, to help re-create that original sense of place, to put back what used to be there.

The topic of “sustainability” (the latest buzz word in the design profession) is on peoples’ minds theses days. This essentially means that we create spaces that last, with materials and methods that use our resources (God’s resources) wisely. Resources mean many things to many different people but I am constantly reminded that I have the responsibility, in my role as a landscape architect, to help protect and preserve our (God’s) existing, natural resources. I do get to re-create or replace if you will, some resources to a certain degree, but some cannot be created by my hands. Conserved or preserved, yes, but not created.

I know now that God has called me to this profession, very loudly, and that He has put the topic of Creation Care on my heart. I can help others understand our fragile Florida ecosystems and how we can easily change some of our habits to better care for what God has put us in charge of. I can help make God’s earth a better place to live.

I often wonder if my career would be different today if the Fall had never happened. I suppose there would be no need for landscape architects. Perhaps God would have let me become a pilot, my other childhood dream. Probably not, they need math skills too. . .

Willson Stuart McBurney

Comments

[Melvin Flor P. Nabong]

Hi, I'am a landcsape architecture student in the University of the Philippines. Personally I was inspired by your view in this profession because I have the same urge as you. That is to magnify God's glory through his creations. We are stewards of this wonderful earth and we are privileged enough to have the skill in co-designing the masterpiece of the Almighty. God bless you.
I pray that God will lead me to a Christian Design Firm in the near future:)