Traveling predawn, south Georgia roads in an effort to arrive at my younger brother's farm before the daily milking began, I was amazed at just how dark it is in the country. I wasn't as familiar with the route as I should have been and realized, all too late, there was a very real possibility of getting myself totally lost; lost with no cell phone service! So naturally I prayed; prayed and watched the road very carefully for each turn and for each landmark along the way. My prayers were answered and I arrived safely in plenty of time to join Renee, my sweet sister-in-law, at the milking station in the new barn Clyde, my younger brother, had recently built.
The setting was idyllic; the sweet smell of late summer grass, the sounds of early morning farm coming to life and the walk to the barn with my brother and his wife to get the milking done before the day began. Now this is really living, I said to myself! Then the work began...washing the udders, feeding the cow, milking the cow, straining the milk, heating the milk, making the curd, draining the curd, making the cheese...these are just the highlights. We worked non-stop from 6:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. with the result of one two-pound hoop of Colby cheese which is still aging in the frig for another two months. This is the simple life? The reality of simple not being synonymous with easy hit me between the eyes! This realization became ever clear to me: maintaining a simple, uncluttered life will, indeed, take a lot of work.
The following morning I traveled again out to the country to pick up the cheese we had made the day before. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, the cheese had to stay in the press for 12 hours, then dry out before it can be dipped into the wax for the aging process to begin. Talk about 'slow food'! This trip to the farm was in the bright light of morning, so I took off with no hesitation on whether I would get lost or not; if I can find my way in pitch darkness, then surely I'll have no trouble in the sunlight! Yes, you guessed it, I missed two turns and almost ended up in Bainbridge. Then this revelation became clear to me; in the dark times of life when I draw near to God, He will guide me, giving me 'turn-by-turn' directions and He will not allow me to get lost. Conversely, during the sunny times, when all is right with the world, I can easily get distracted and readily lose my way. I left the farm that day with a renewed commitment to stay close to God, to listen and hear His voice whether it is a sunny day at the beach or the roughest storm of life. Following His directions is the ultimate simple life!
