Author: Dena Eakles

The roosters crow and chickens run for cover. The sheep meander through the old orchard happy to find apples that have dropped. The deer also munch away putting on their winter weight. They seldom run from us now; it’s more like a saunter. The squirrels chastise my cat and dog as we walk by. They’re looking for walnuts to hide. But the pets are oblivious to their nasty banter and hurry on. Everyone has a purpose and with focused attention they get to it.

These are the simple pleasures of living on the land. This time of year, while the garden is in full production and the work is seemingly endless, a swell of gratitude begins. 

The days are gradually shortening and the morning air carries a bit of crispness.  The rhythm of life calls us to slow down and feel the beauty. In a blink the seasons will change and a whole new wonder will emerge.

But for now, I revel in the glory of abundance. And I cannot help but think of the people world over who are being forced from their homelands – either by Nature or by the destructive will of humankind. My compassion is aroused because I know the simple pleasures of living on the land and how each individual has their own unique dance with it, wherever they are. The feel of the earth beneath our feet, the triumph of a garden, the sweetness of shepherding life…to have that ripped away is inhuman.

Colonizers and land thieves may never know what it is to live simply. The stolen land is soaked in blood and tears and while it may produce for them, the stain of violence will linger. Generational trauma will haunt the violent perpetrators and continue to suffer the victims. And those who looked away or supported the violence will not escape the judgement of history. The guilt of association poisons.

Human hearts are not designed for duplicity. And joy cannot thrive where hatred dwells. We have yet to discover the option of peace. The option waits.

We are groomed. From our toothpaste to our choice of presidents and everything in between we are groomed. From blue to pink, trucks and dolls, prince and princess we are sold a way of life that we accept. 

The unity that everyone is suddenly seeking is not a unity of plurality. It is a unity of homogenization. 

Pundits and tricksters are clever at finding weaknesses and preying on the vulnerable. We are still falling for the “pick yourselves up by the bootstraps” mentality and we are willing to line up behind those who tell us they have succeeded. 

We’ve stopped teaching our children about universality and wisdom. We teach right and wrong and demonstrate that wrong is often right. 

We brag about our exceptionalism, salute the flag and honor those who died for our freedom, but are quite willing to sacrifice those same freedoms to someone who willingly admits he would be an autocrat.

And of course, the flip side of the coin holds the same empty rhetoric but is geared towards those who fear evil – but not enough fear to really want to see change. 

Because what would change mean?

Change would mean finding ways that work for all of us. It would mean building communities, not tearing them apart by militarized police.

Change would mean understanding we are part of a global humanity and the family of man is faced with consequences of climate change and wars that are causing migration the world over.

Change would mean recognizing that capitalism and empires have wounded us so we may begin to actively and consciously dismantle those crippling enterprises. While we’re at it, let us begin with defunding Israel and demanding the end to its apartheid regime. 

“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” Camus