Life, Love, and Lots of Animals

As I sit here this evening, I can't help but ponder about life. People say they are jealous of what I have. They find solace in the animals I care for and love. It's hard for me to understand the fascination people have for country living, but at the same time, I can see why they crave it so much. The hustle and bustle of the city—the noise from the cars; the people... The city is loud, and the sky is fogged over—you can't see the stars. In the country, you can see the stars shine brightly, and the air is usually crisp, no matter the season. There's a sense of freedom when one is out in the country, on God's green Earth. 

Life... Do people really understand the meaning of life? Do they truly know what it means to live life to the fullest? We get so consumed with our jobs and technology around us... We become lost without a phone at our fingertips. What has become of man? The children of today won't know how to grow things or even survive if the power goes out for an extended period of time. They are clueless, but it's not their fault. It's the fault of their parents and society. Those around them focus on the future in a technological sense. They disregard the trades of living off the land, learning what hard labor is, and the whole concept of survival. 

Sitting in my living room, I listen to my small dog, Noel, snore next to me, while Panther purrs as she sleeps on my lap. Nikita is fast asleep on the couch, and Shadow Bear is sprawled out on the floor, rubbing his chin against the wood grains. Roscoe Tucker is stretched across the very same floor but in front of the couch, guarding his beloved Nylabone toy. It's a very normal evening in my life, but I can't help but feel sad. Humanity was created in God's image, and yet humanity is bound by the chains of society and government. There are so many people who work themselves to death just to scrape by and pay the bills. There is a sadness within them, and they don't know why. 

People are creatures of habit—surely, this you know because you have habits of your own. I have habits, but the majority of them revolve around the animals I call my children. They adhere to a very strict schedule each and every day. On the days when the schedule shifts ever so slightly, they act out. Granted, people are exactly the same—we lash out at others despite them having nothing to do with the circumstances. We become frustrated with our loved ones and even ourselves. But why do we adhere to such schedules? What is the importance of having habits? The answer lies within us... For myself, it's both comforting and familiar territory. How about you? Do you find solace in your habits? Do you prefer the familiarity of your schedule?