Sheep's Eye View

One of the easiest words to learn in the Italian language was pecore – sheep, because I simply love pecorino, English for sheep’s cheese. There are many sheep in this region of Italy and I delight in several types of sheep cheese on a regular basis here, ah….heaven! But even more heavenly to me is the sound of the sheep bleating in the morning and their wonderful bells. It is like the sound of peace for me, tranquility.

Arriving in the midst of winter as I did, there were very few sheep out in the larger meadows, as they needed to be brought in from the cold. So, with the meadows open and empty this was a grand time to wander and wonder at Piegaro and the surroundings from a sheep’s eye view. Walking through the meadows, the grass was high, as were other plants, waiting for spring to become green and delicious food for the sheep once again. It was invigorating to make paths through the waist-high foliage and wonder at how much time it would take a flock of sheep to eat through all that tangled mess of grasses, dried flowers and budding new plants.

As spring arrived it was fun to look through the meadow of dandelions and view for once their amazing beauty as a sea of golden yellow among the crisp green grass. There are no weeds here, only glowing flowers! I contemplated how many articles have come out lately about the delicious quality of dandelion greens, and spring recipes for preparation….beauty and edible at the same time!

In thinking of the sheep and their work of eating and simply being so they can provide wool and food for humans, I contemplate how hard we struggle sometimes to make it through life, not simply being able to “be.” It is so easy for me to make the simplest of tasks difficult, to make little things a struggle and effort. It takes me back to the scripture where Jesus tells the disciples not to worry about today, look at the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, they toil not. Neither do the sheep, instead they are cared for by their shepherds whether in the barns in the winter, or grazing in the beautiful pastures in spring and summer.

Are you one who worries and works fretfully, or do you walk lightly through life?
How often do you slow down and let others care for you?
How do you balance care for others with care for self that allows life to have a rhythm that is a good pace for yourself?
How do you see slowing down as a spiritual practice?