The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings ta ever one in Western Illinois and all readers of the Quill. Here we are into the first full week of December already.
Pearl Harbor day has come and gone again. Somehow "the Day of Infamy" seems to have lost it's meaning ta many of the millennials. There remains enough of the older folk around that it's full mean'n is imprinted in their memories.
There is an old say'n that sez 'A person must meet fear ta know courage.' Those fellers after Pearl Harbor had 'Great Courage.'
With this first full week of December, I still have four hang'n baskets of petunias in full bloom. They continue ta make the day seem brighter when in their full glory they hang in front of our kitchen window.
Of course, I no longer see any Humming Birds duel'n into their sweet nectar. That sight I miss, but they will be back next summer. A few nights I did bring the pots indoors ta save them from 'Jack Frost."
It's enterest'n, now that most of the leaves have dropped from the trees around our house, to easily observed the many and various bird nests nestled in amongst the branches. Nests from visiting birds of all types.
I especially miss their sing'n as they built those nests and prepared fer the next generation of birds of their type.
Wrongfully Right
Think'n of birds and outdoor life reminds me of one of life's many lessons that wild life has ta offer. It can best be described in scripture in Galatians 5:15 "But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not consumed one of another."
Out in the woods two large and trophy sized stags lay dead, their antlers locked in grim testimony ta the manner of their death.
The two great beasts had faced off, each confident of his own position and ability. They charged and rammed their antlers together, grunt'n and twist'n in the struggle ta be master of the territory. Each was angry that another had invaded the space he called "mine."
They then retreated, both breath'n hard, only to passionately charge again, each determined to prove himself and his cause. And, then came the fateful twist that locked them together fer the rest of their lives. Imagine the agony of their thirst and starvation until their lives flickered out.
"I know I'm right! He is wrong! Wh Can't he see it? It is so plain, if only he could see it with an open mind." So roll the passionate thoughts in our heads.
Angrily we confront our antagonist, drive'n at him with wit and sarcasm. We are certain of our position. We are convinced he is wrong. And then comes that fatal twist that dooms our relationship.
Sadly we can go back and look at the two great beasts. One obviously perished before the other, but in the end they both died a lonely and frightened death.
What if'n, after they were locked together, they had made peace until they shed their antlers? Uncomfortably close, yes, but it would have been possible to eat, drink, and sleep together A warm and endure'n friendship may have resulted.
What can we compare this to? Maybe we have ta look no further then our State or National level of politics. Could one party uncomfortably make peace with the other fer the good of those they represent? How about Governor Rauner vs Speaker of the House Michael Madigan here in Illinois, to develop a state budget, or solve the deficit problem, must they lock horns as the light of our great state flickers out.
Maybe one or the other is right or partially so but what profit is it if'n the state careens off into bankruptcy and ruin?
Who Owns The Barn?
The carpenter bee is a fascinate'n little creature. Her stubby body is anything but aerodynamic, yet she can hover, pivot, back up, and speed forward with amaze'n agility. There is a problem with her in that she eats holes in barn timbers. The holes she chews in the wood become nests fer lay'n her eggs.
These bees are territorial, and each bee fiercely guards what she considers ta be her property. That is what the hover'n is all about. She challenges anything that flies near her nest - be it a butterfly, a wasp, or another bee, it can expect ta be confronted.
One astute little bee was once observed shoot'n skyward in hot pursuit of a pass'n vulture. She carried the unmistakable message, "This is my property! Stay Away!"
But who gave her that barn or how did it become her property. Someone else paid large sums of hard-earned money ta have it built. They thought is was their barn. Why are ya chew'n holes all over something that does not belong ta you.
What good reason might she give fer claim'n someone else's barn as her territory. Who endowed her with the intelligence ta even know she needed a barn. Why is she claim'n someone else's barn as her own? Whose money did you buy it with? Where did ya get the strength ta earn that money?
Watch'n the Carpenter bee one might ask similar questions of our politicians and/or others who seem ta think they have the right fer control over so many matters in our lives!
Well, that's enough fer the boys and I ta ponder over and dwell on fer this week.
Have a good rest of the week.
Hope'n ta see ya in church this week.
Remember; Wherever ya are, whatever ya be a do'n 'BE A GOOD ONE!'
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya Later
Barnyard Bruke