The Gap Between Ideals and Reality

A fellow blogger just posted about some lovely books she purchased that are full of information about how to lead what I would consider the perfect life. By that I mean a healthy beautiful life connected to the Church, community, home, and family. She asks rhetorically, "Should a person with so little time even think about buying these?" I think many of us feel this way. Should we even think about adding one more iota of information to our already unattainable ideal life?

I think the answer is yes, and I assume so does she, because she did buy the books. I say, "Good for her!" We should at least dream of the way things should be and make little steps toward what we want. Knowing that somewhere in the world someone still knows how to do the things we hope to be able to do gives some comfort not to mention inspiration.

As for me, right now, I am tired of there being such a huge gap between the way I think life should be and the way it is. Some of it is in my control and I really just need to take the plunge. But some of it I can't do too much about. An area that I think is most essential to a good life is food. What should be a simple topic is full of conroversy. For example, we can't even legally buy real milk or afford to feed a large family on organic produce. In terms of overall cost (including the cost to the environment and people's health) it is better to eat local organic produce (especially homegrown) and drink raw milk from clean healthy pasture-fed cows on an organic farm. These are small things compared to many problems in society, but they are indicitive of our loss of culture and our loss of priorities. Big business wants more product for more profit and they cut corners where it helps them (like deals with the pesticide company) and short-changes the consumer (like adverse health effects and reduced nutritional content). Similarly the consumer wants products at "Wal-Mart" prices and whenever they want it (like produce out of season) in nice convenient packaging.

I think the disspearance of the family cow is a good illustration of how the gap between a beautiful natural life and the consumer-oriented life most of us lead got so big. Having a cow ties you down. You have to slow down, focus on getting things done and keeping the animal healthy, you have to nurture it, and everyone has to pitch in. Unless you have a very generous neighbor, you can't leave for a vacation and let Bessie milk herself. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It is a trade off sure, but in return you get a faithful animal that provides some of the most nutritious food available (raw milk and cheese), and you place family life and family health first. Not to mention the closeness to nature that increases our awareness of God's providence. A connection to the source of our food that keeps us humble.

Some may say I am exaggerating but I don't think so. That is not to say that we should all have a cow out back. Most of us can't right now and many of us wouldn't want to. But I think we should do what we can to support local dairies and farms and start spending our money on real food that fosters real culture.

For those who would question me I suggest you read this book:



Someday I hope to be out milking my own Jersey. I pray God gives me the strength to make the break from my "Wal-Mart" ways to live the life that I dream of.