Are You A Peasant?

FRI., AUG. 28, 1992, 6:40 AM
FARM, STUDY

Rather than clearing your mind for the title I would give you, you have let thoughts cascade one upon another. So I shall take one of these and comment upon it on this cool summer morn. I won’t necessarily answer the question, but will offer you observations about what answers to this question mean, spiritually. And, of course, there must be some definition of “peasant”.

Knowing you as I do, I say that you see yourself as not aspiring to high sophistication, to symbols of wealth and power, or to other symbols of success, even in your professional world. You are pleased to live on this Farm, responding pretty well to My calls to keep it clean and beautiful, but enjoying the rustic nature of it, the shabby house, the broken down barn, the disreputable fence… You don’t want the place to deteriorate, for to you it is a sacred, holy place, as well as your home, but it need not be grander than it is. It is a place more grand than would be expected for a 3rd world peasant, certainly but less so for one with a position such as yours. This is spiritually satisfying to you, and should be.

You have some trouble, and you did yesterday, with stopping along the highway and cutting clover for your rabbits. The clover is plentiful, and your animals love it, but to be seen cutting clover along the road by friends and colleagues, with your less than shiny, new truck…? It was your peasant nature that pushed you to stop, gather the box of rabbit food, despite the weak moans of your more sophisticated self.

Your clothing is more elegant and in greater quantity than that of a 3rd world peasant, but much of what you wear coms from thrift shops or Haband… and you wear clothing until it is obviously worn. You can look nice, but you’re not a “fashion plate,” having only minor desires to live as some well-dressed folk do.

A full professor is what you are and have been for more than 20 years. Though you looked toward this you did not struggle for it, as some of your colleagues have and do. You did what you enjoyed and just assumed that this would be sufficient. You have not tried to best anyone for position or honors. You have not aspired to be an administrator nor an officer in a national organization. You have been satisfied with the honors that have come to you… and pleased with them, certainly, but you have not aspired to be more powerful or well-known than has come naturally. You even still resist My call for you to write the professional papers that should be in your field’s literature. I suggest that’s carrying your peasant role too far.

Soon you shall do both of your song and story presentations. The songs are not those familiar to most of your students. You do them moderately well, but not in any sophisticated fashion. It is not particularly good, by music standards, but, in peasant style, you do it, with good spirit, and resist the temptation to be too critical of yourself.