The Grass Is Calling
Posted: Wednesday, May 05, 2010
by Bing Limousin
DreamHill Farms
Every living thing, in its own unique style, has its own pastures and its own fences. Are we critters ever really satisfied?
Just yesterday, the bull across the street broke through his fence in order to munch on our lush, green, un-mowed lawn and ended up spending the night in our front pasture. Actually, I have a theory that he just wanted a quiet night's sleep away from all of the cows in the herd waking him up at all hours of the night for sex. But of course I can't prove that. I think he just saw the green grass and some biological, hard-wired mechanism overtook his normal peaceful, satisfied demeanor. He just couldn't help himself.
Most likely if we were void of such callings' we might still be all stuck on some prehistoric plain somewhere bumping into each other fighting over a quench from a tiny mud hole or questing a feast from some skinny, scared rodent. Rather our bold ambitions have led us to amazing, creative accomplishments (although some might argue we are still just fighting over larger watering holes and bigger rodents, but I will leave such discussions to others) For all of us animals, we innately look and long for whatever' lies beyond the next hill, beyond our own fenceline.
Here at the farm, we opened a new lush pasture recently; one that was thick with virgin grass. Up to that point, the critters had been pushing beyond the fence lines; in some rather creative ways I might add, in order to get at the taller, greener grasses just beyond their intended reach. They see it, they want it. It pushes even the most reliable fencing to its limits!
Upon opening the gate to the new, enlarged pasture, #5, there was giddiness reminiscent of Christmas's past. The horses and cows soon were gorging themselves on the new grass like starving aliens. It's like taking some hungry country boy to the Plaza's Sunday brunch. In accelerated munching they seem to be burning as many calories as they were taking in! But, in time, after a few days they began to wander back to their old haunts. The new pasture became just one more addition to their routine-nothing special any more. Like all of God's creatures, great and small, never satisfied, but perhaps content for the moment.
Unlike the critters though, who are never content, we human animals can concoct mind games to rationalize the advantages of our modest gifts. If we are faithful and diligent, by looking backward rather than forward sometimes we can find ourselves grateful for pastures we have rather than the pastures we have not. The horses and cows do not start each day saying, "Man, this is great. Who could ask for more?" It is just not in their nature. It is not in our nature. But to paraphrase a line from "African Queen:" " Nature is what we are put here on earth to rise above."
Each of us has created our own pastures; for the duration perhaps. Nothing is ever simple, nor is it easy but, it is where we are and what we are. Today seem to be as good a time as any to contemplate such a simple, glorious notion.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)You're right. It may never be simple or easy, but it's good when we can be happy where we are. As satisfied as we might think we are though, being human, we will always have those days where we want to wander beyond the fenceline, experience what we think we're missing, or want something we can't have. It's okay to feel that way, it doesn't mean we're not happy, it just means we're not dead. Another good one Bing!Please log in to respond to this comment.b-sorry i never respoded-good thoughtsbingPlease log in to respond to this comment.
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