Tuesday, August 17, 2010



A Farmer’s Our Father


It is a rosy misty morning and the sun hasn’t yet thrown off his blanket. Yet he is sending his harbinger rays up over the sleepy trees. The roosters have been up for two hours pinging one cock a doodle do after another in some kind of macho contest. It is quiet on the deck as I draw in a deep blessed breath….and then I am spotted. Goat uproar ensues. Oh well….time to pray.

I cross myself to begin my daily rosary. I get through the Apostle’s Creed before I leave my deck. So onto the prayer that Jesus taught us Himself. Our Father…..oh wow, look at that water trough, I just filled it. Hmmm it needs scrubbing this time. Uh – where was I? Our Father who art…..no! quit climbing on me Kizu! I don’t have any grain. Give over Meko! Ahhhhh!! I just got in the middle of a tussle. How I hate to get butted in the knees. Oh – where was I? Our Father who art in heaven….hey get out of the chicken feed. Did you open the food door again? I guess I will have to screw it shut….

On my journey to the garage for a screw and driver I recollect. Oh! Our Father who art in heaven. The dogs! I forget to feed you didn’t I? Sorry ‘bout that! Here, come and get it. No! you can’t eat the raw meat inside. Take it out! I don’t care if your afraid of the rooster! Ahhh….no take it OUT! I shut them outside. Where was I? Oh, Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come….oops I forgot to put the solar food drier out to charge up….got to do it now or I’ll forget. The sun is now making himself known over the tree tops.

Oh glorious Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name! The sun is so beautiful, the grass so green. My lovely lady trees are still delighting in the coolness of the morning. Chickens strut over the meadows, dogs chase the heron fishing in the pond, and my horses graze desultorily at the wet grass. Where was I? Oh….Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name! Thy kingdom come…thy will be done…oh where is the world, where is my country going? As I trek on down to the barn I ponder the fact that the Father does have it under control. Oh! I forgot to screw the food door shut on the chicken coop! U turn and tramp up the soaking grass! Where was I? Oh! Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name! Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is….all right Dozer dog what do you have in your mouth! Have you been raiding the fire pit again? Drop it…it’s plastic and will kill you. I don’t care if it smells like chicken!

There the coop is fixed. The hens are milling around waiting for me to throw them some feed….I guess too lazy to walk inside the coop. With a lopsided grin I realize that with me around they don’t need to lift a claw! Oh…Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name! Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day – all right Bo I hear you. In fact the whole sleeping neighborhood can hear that bray – heeeeeee hawwwwwwwwwwwww! I’m coming!

Determined to get the Our Father finished I realize I just have to concentrate…..Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name! Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven! Give us this day our daily bread….all right donkey, your stomach is touching your backbone – could have fooled me. I’m coming, I’m coming! Uh Oh – my farmer friend is here and I haven’t gotten the gate open! Just a minute! I’m coming!!!!! Where was I? Can’t remember….gasping I cry out more than recite, Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name! Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we…”

“No Mr Heflin,” I wasn’t saying anything! “Thanks for coming so soon to cut the field. Okay have a great day!”

HmmmmmmmmmmwherewasI? I catch my breath and as I walk slowly to the barn and the waiting amigos (a pony, donkey and horse) I say slowly and distinctly, Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name! Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us….I see out of the corner of my eye that my sly shepherd dog has escaped through the front gate and out into the great big world with undisguised glee. Oh well, where was I?