“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what life had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” — Henry David Thoreau, Walden.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” — James 4:10, Holy Bible (NIV)
I have come to live in a cabin beside sheep, cows, and pigs with my companion lab Briley on the property of my loving family. I will begin each day with prayer and meditation. Six days a week I will pray with the faithful at St. Joseph the Worker. I will make deliveries for Summit View Ag (my family’s farm) to Amish and Mennonite brethren. At mid-day I will sit down to a farm fresh meal prepared by my daughter. My son in law will select a song of faith for grace and I will sing with my grandchildren. In the evenings I will listen to Reds on Radio, text friends and family, and doze in my recliner.
One 24 hour period each week will be a Sabbath where I will engage in a work and routine stoppage to do things that particularly delight me. I may visit friends. Write letters. Read poetry. Whatever the Spirit leads me to do that is an exercise in freedom, not enslavement to addiction. Saturday evening I will praise God at Mass. Sunday I will join the fellowship at the Mennonite meeting house for worship.
This will be my life for the next six months. Maybe longer. An experiment in holy, healthy, happy living. Plain and simple.
