I
grew up in paradise, A place called metchosin, (which translated
means Stinking Fish, but that is a story for another time.) It was a
little place outside of Victoria on Vancouver Island. My every day
play mates were, My chickens, My Bunny, My Guinea pigs, pigs, and
of course, My Dog Molly. There was so much to do, explore the
woods, look for snakes under the 2 square foot concrete blocks at
the back of the property, or catch frogs in the ditch at the bottom
of the driveway. Much of my time was spent Riding my bike around the
house, roller skating, exploring the woods around the property and
much more. Sometimes during the early and mid fall if I was really
lucky, I could find and Eft along the road or under a log.. An eft
is an immature reddish orange Newt, I had a couple as pets and
would dig worms for their food. My dad taught me how to feed the
efts by hanging the wriggling worm in front of its nose. They were
almost as fun to watch eat as my frogs. They lived in the terrarium
that my dad and I built out of My old cracked aquarium. I would
leave the bathroom window open and the light on, attracting crane
flies for their dinner. Crane flies are incredibility easy to catch
and make for good Frog eating. They look like a really big mosquito
but do not bite. Some days the frog would miss them with his big
pinkish white tongue which would get stuck to the glass. That was
always funny, and gave me a chance to see what it looked like. We
would never keep any amphibian long, as they are much happier in the
wild. a good week was all we needed for learning and play.
When
I wasn't off scavenging new pets, I would sit under the big pine
trees and Listen to the eagle whistling, and the sparrows twittering.
Or Climb up the alder and read a book, or play superheros, and
explore, and build amazing tree forts with the boy next door. Our
highest was 8 levels tall, His dad built the main part then we would
pound nails into 2X4s and weave rope around them for our next level
and so on. And sometimes I would help Romeo, my sisters Guinea pig;
over the barrier between him and the girly guineas....That's where I
learned a little more about how babies are made.
During
the winter I learned about physics with tobogganing down our steep
hill for the 2 days per year that there was snow, or redirecting the
water as it poured in streams down the paths. I also learned that my
parents will FREAK OUT if I bring a poor innocent mouse inside after
it was attacked by the cat. I learned about life, procreation, and
death. Mostly I learned my heavenly father loves me. You cannot
stand at the top of Mount Ash watching the sun set into the Sooke
harbor while the moon rises over the forest and not feel loved by a
supernal Father.
It
was outside in nature that I first started contemplating my Divine
Nature, and the divine nature of Animals, and all gods creations.
The scripture that says the god is mindful of even when a sparrow
falls, was one that always stuck with me. I always tried to treat
all the creations I handled with love and respect. I learned not
to fear Gods creatures, not Even the carpenter ants, right before I
threw them into the spiders web. Fall was such a great time growing
up, when the termites and carpenter ants would fly out of their
nests, my sisters and I would watch them climbing out from the trees,
or landing on them (I am not sure which) then gather them up and go
and feed all the hungry spiders. It was amazing watching the spiders
fly to the stuck insect paralyze it, and gift wrap it for its supper.
It was our way of helping the circle of life along, and learning all
about it. And great parallels to life as well.
When
I was 4, I remember getting lost up the mountain. And falling to my
knees near tears, frustration flowing over me, and asking heavenly
Father for help to get home. When I looked up, there was nothing.
A few minutes later, our dog Bridget, appeared out of nowhere. She
came up to me and sat down. I was over joyed, I knew how to get
home. I commanded her to “find mom” and I was able to follow her
off the hill. (we called it the mountain as it seemed such to a
little person) Bridget was an instrument in Gods hands and one of
the first strong witnesses to my heart that Heavenly Father answers
prayers, even though animals.
I
Remember as a young girl gathering and carrying the chickens to my
dad and the Chopping block. I was the Chicken whisperer in my neighborhood. I was the one they would call if a chicken escaped,
because I was always able to walk up to them and pick them up. They
would never run. They would crouch down and snuggle in when I picked
them up. there was never a question of them being aware with their
spirits as I had witness many of my chickens die. AS I would carry
them to the chopping block where my dads machete was waiting. I
would sense fear then acceptance that they were fulfilling their
purpose on earth.. In that case to feed me and my family. I learned
a deep and unalterable respect for the food I ate. Whether from the
garden, which I helped weed (Or watched my mom weed while I ate the
berries), or the animals I helped raise. When reading about the
passover, or a sacrificial lamb, I understood the importance, and
meaning of it being one that was especially known and loved.
I
respected and ENJOYED the heat we had in the winter, as I had helped
gather, and stack the wood we burned for warmth. I never chopped, I
was never much good with the ax, and I have the scars to prove it.
There were many a Saturday morning spent being up before any pre teen
or child would wish, out in the bush as a family bucking and chopping
wood, loading it into the trailer, and stacking it again at home. My
dad worked hard during the day to bring home monetary means to
provide for us. And his absence was felt by us all. Life was not
about flipping a switch and what ever I wanted or needed was there.
I watched my Parents work, and they taught me how to work and most
importantly how to enjoy it, And that makes me truly grateful.
Growing
up in the country was the best thing in the world. As the world
changes and I see Children getting more and more absorbed into these
pathetic little electronics, where they are distracted and blocked
from the beauty that God has made for them makes me want to scream
and cry. The adversary wishes to distract them from living. I mean
Really living. He makes them believe that a counterfeit life will be
fulfilling and progressive. Keeping them over stimulated, Lulling
them into a stupor, wasting precious time to grow and develop into
spiritually wide awake and alive souls. We are in the midst of a
zombie apocalypse, or Cyber-man invasion and we are all signing up!
I
am so excited to share with my children, a similar, though vastly
different type of childhood. The climate here is very different, the
wild life equally so. I feel and I believe that every spirit needs
to reconnect with the world heavenly father designed for us.
Heavenly father believes in Pets, He did ask Adam to Name each
animal in the garden after all.
Getting
back to nature is how we begin to learn righteous dominion over all
living things. Followed later by parenthood. This world is a
beautiful wonderful gift and we must learn to nurture and care for it
all around us and in return it will nurture our Minds, heart and
spirit.
And
really who could settle for anything less?
