Lenten reflections from a Suffolk Smallholding - 4

If you are directly responsible for the welfare of other sentient beings, whether that be children, other family members, pets and, as in our case, livestock, it necessitates a focused commitment. Such commitments all come with responsibilities which you cannot shirk. At this time on the smallholding, having to check the lambing shed for new arrivals at frequent intervals and dealing with new born lambs, certainly accentuates that sense of commitment in this area of our lives. We currently have a rejected twin lamb who is entirely dependent on being bottle fed four times a day in order to survive.

A not infrequent comment on our smallholding life is that it must impose rather too many restrictions: "you cannot take off for the weekend on the spur of the moment". Of course this is not a view we share. We don't feel it an imposition; it is a life and associated commitments based on decisions we freely enter into. In fact, in many ways it is a liberation because it opens up all sorts of life opportunities, experiences and relationships not otherwise encountered. It has engendered help and helping from and to others in collaborating in shared endeavours. It is also liberating because it is a simpler life, both experientially and materially. Moreover, what we are doing has a serious purpose behind it and is not simply to fill the day and pass the time. As it happens, when I think back with a growing family and developing professional lives, I do not recall one instance when we have ever taken off for a weekend on the spur of the moment! But that might just be us.

We get much satisfaction from being at home and for our home-based activities. If we do want to go away it is entirely possible with a bit of planning. We are fortunate in that we have people around us more than willing to step in and help. 

Overall, we would certainly not characterise our lives as restricted. In reality any meaningful life is necessarily one of commitments. Commitments, with their associated limitations, evolve over time but they are always present. Bringing up children, professional commitments, service to the community, personal commitments and, for many, commitments to faith, are obvious examples. Life is full of commitments. Sometimes they conflict which can lead to making difficult decisions. Having commitments and being committed are not the same thing, however. Action is required.

One important dimension of being committed worth highlighting, particularly in relation to interpersonal commitments, is that it encourages and promotes looking outside of the self rather than  inward looking pre-occupations. Good things can potentially flow from such an outlook, including positive effects on mental health.

Friday this week was the Feast of the Annunciation when Mary, despite her young age and lowly status (or indeed because of it) made a supreme commitment. On Mother's Day today, a model of perfection. True to liturgical neatness, Friday marked exactly 9 months to Christmas Day.

By Sassoferrato (1609-1685)

For more Lenten reflections, go to Angela's  Tracing Rainbows blog.