The winter continues its icy grip. It was -15F when I awoke. Now it is a balmy -5. I had to knock the ice out of the chickens water bucket as well as the goats. I usually let the chickens out on sunny days in the Winter, but I haven't seen much point in it this last week. There is too much snow for them to go anywhere and I don't want to let more cold in the coop.
In the onset of a more gradual Winter the sheep keep the snow in the area around the chicken coop packed down and make a nice path to the barn. The chickens have an opportunity to roam around without wading in deep snow, chickens don't like to have snow up to their shanks. They like to go in the barn in the Winter and scratch around. I will probably let the chickens out later in the week when it gets a little warmer.
I have been warm and comfortable doing the chores despite the cold and wind. A while back, seven years ago[?], I bought a knee length goose down coat from Eddie Bauer. It was an off season purchase. I think I paid $90 for a $300 coat. It seemed too nice to wear for work around the farm. I thought I would wear it for good [whatever that means]. And when is that? When we go some place we are in a warm car. I think I wore it once. It has been hanging in my closet gathering dust. I had forgotten about it until Jamie urged me to wear it on the first sub-zero windy day. It is great. There is nothing like a good warm coat when one needs to be outside.
There is a moral here somewhere. Haven't we at times waited for something before we could be happy? Waited for vacation to relax? Waited for the kids to grow before expressing artistic abilities? Waiting for time to read that book? Waiting for a holiday as an excuse to make that sumptuous desert?
Sure we can't do two things at once. When we are busy changing diapers, we can't paint a picture. But do we have to wait until the last diaper is changed? The kid does take a nap, doesn't s/he? Who says we have to wait? Always waiting for a weekend or vacation to relax means we are missing most of our life. Of course it is a state of mind. We can be happy anytime. We have been conditioned to think we can only relax under certain circumstances. Some of us push off into the future a time when we can enjoy ourselves. I can tell you stories of people who did this; the future they were hoping for never came.
One thing we learn by living in the moment is that we can always be peaceful. Happiness is always available. For most of us that is a goal not a reality. Always being in the moment takes learning and mental discipline; we will get there. In the meantime we are involved in expectations of a future reality and not always happy with the present. Let's take a look at ourselves. Are we waiting to be happy this evening? This weekend? After the kids grow up? When we retire?
Chasing a carrot on the end of a stick has been the conditioning of our society. We have been lulled into a tortured complacency chasing what may never come. It is a subtle means of control which has kept the natives[us] from getting too restless.
Let us not do it anymore. Regardless of what we find ourselves doing; there is also being. Our being, our state of mind can be joyful. Why would we want to put off being happy?
Stop! Time is an illusion! Right now it is racing by for many of us. Now is eternity. Most of us may not be ready to see the truth of this. But most of us can clearly see, that finding love in this moment, makes life precious. Being in love every moment is heaven. Seeing every person we meet as long lost friends; friends bearing love and joy is our truth. We don't have to wait for heaven. It has been here all the time. Let us open our eyes, our hearts and minds and welcome this reality. It is ours. It is what we created with Source.
Love and Peace, Gregg
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