Living by our wits

I can't recall the last time I pulled the old blunderbuss down from the nails above the fireplace to go out and down some fowl for supper.

Nor is it clear in my memory when I made soap the last time.

And for the life of me, I have no memory whatsoever of defending the homestead against all invaders foreign and domestic, although my dog, Gypsy, believes EVERYONE is an invader, including members of the family.

When I need something, I drive to the store or in good weather, I ride my bike. I swipe my debit card and carry out the bags of necessities and walk away a happy woman.

In bygone days, women bake their own bread from corn or wheat that the family cultivated and raised on the family plot. If they were able, they ground their own corn or wheat using the mill on the creek that was on their property.

They raised a vegetable garden and hunted for big and small game. Fishing for sport was unheard of and no trophy was awarded for the biggest catch. It wasn't a game, it was survival.

Berries were picked and preserved were made.

Apples were dried and stored to make winter pies and cakes.

Milk didn't come in a carton, it came in a cow. And the cow came with the manure that was spaded over into the garden to fertilize the carrots, potatoes and peas.

When was the last time I mucked out a stall and turned over a half-acre vegetable plot with the old Jenny mule and a freshly sharpened plow? I just can't recall there ever being a FIRST time.

Although I have mucked out stalls and milked a cow and planted a garden and put away food, it was never because "I had to" but rather an exercise in self-sufficiency with an open grocery store nearby.

Bartering and haggling over merchandise seldom occurs unless I am holding my annual yard sale (which is a fabulous event - mark your calendars now!).

But I wonder - would I be able to wash the clothing on the rub board and hang them out to dry while baking the bread, making the soap, stewing the vegetables and preparing a chicken on the spit for dinner? Or would I be unable to do any of those things because I was whimpering in a corner somewhere?

I worry about the state of our economy and our ability to truly care for ourselves and our families during hard times. Although I have been reliably informed that this current crisis doesn't measure up to the Great Depression, I have a sense of sadness and anxiety for family and friends who are struggling and looking for jobs while all around us the manipulators and greedy are becoming more wealthy at the expense of everyday people.

Trusting in Heavenly Father, I pray each day for those in my circle whom I care for and hope that should it come to a reversal of fortunes that I will still be able to see and be thankful for God's hand in my life.

Is it possible for the post-modern world to live without technology? How many of us can truly make it without the modern conveniences that have simply become our way of life?

I don't know that I can. And I worry about things like modern medicines and care for my family.

But I must believe in God and that He alone knows what is best and what trials I must pass through in order to be ready, worthy and able to return home someday.

So I guess it comes down to living by wits...but not my wits.

I think it comes down to relying upon the wits of Him who framed the heavens. Relying upon the wisdom of the All-Wise Creator of us all. Depending upon a life and living that last far beyond this mortal piece of the puzzle.

Just rambling through some thoughts today...