The Beauty of Daily Life
Happy Thursday!
We recently had a few more people join the homestead and we wanted to share their greetings and reflections with you all.
Keller is our new Sales Manager for Family Friendly Farms and found us after realizing he wanted something more than the lack of self-discipline found in the secular culture.
Claire actually grew up with my sister-in-law and I went to school with her at John Paul the Great University! She works tirelessly to manage the house at the Ranch, filling in the gaps that a bunch of bachelor boys can’t fill ;-).
They are both amazing people and we’re just as excited to have them as they are about the lifestyle of OLR as they discover the beauty and peace found in The Art of Sustainable Living while holding God in the center of life…
Keller here!
I moved to Grass Valley from southern California (Anaheim) about one month ago! I went to college to study chemical engineering and then spent this last year working in ministry for my Church. Now I’m ready to tackle the next challenge life has for me :).
As the newest member of OLR, I’ve been immersed into the lifestyle right away - from making a sale to milking a cow and everything in between - I’m doing it all.
The crazy thing is, this is my first time living on a ranch. Growing up in the city, I knew the lifestyle there wasn’t something I wanted for myself. The individualistic attitudes that exist in many secular lives really pushed me away and I knew there had to be something better. I dreamed of finding a place full of life and community, where everyone works together with common goals in mind.
I never thought any of that was possible because that’s the kind of life you only see in stories. You know, the kind where they all live happily ever after. Well, little did I know that there were people doing this very thing!
To make a long story short - through a fare amount of searching and The Holy Spirit guiding me along the way, I found myself here at Our Lady’s Ranch. Grounded in similar principles and using Faith as the cornerstone of daily life, I was amazed at the lifestyle and peace that this small community has attained.
Now, I don’t say all of this like I just found myself planted in the middle of some fairytale (life has its challenges), and life on a ranch certainly has its own host of difficulties. But through faith and understanding that God is leading the way, I’m confident that He can lead us all towards a fuller and happier life, and I’m starting that right here at Our Lady’s Ranch.
“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.” (Laura Ingalls Wilder)
It’s hard to believe (after a life of needing stimulation in order to get through the boredom of each day) that the simple things are now what I look forward to most. In my current life, it’s cleanliness, nourishment and connection which carries my day. In my old mindset of self-gratification, there was a temptation to see something necessary and daily as monotonous and distracting. Yet looking a little deeper, I realize that such a mindset distracts me from living the merits of a small life, or as a wise woman called it, “The Little Way.”
“I want to take clean cups out of the dishwasher and put them in the cupboard at home.... and the next morning, I want to watch my wife drink from them.” (Fleabag)
The beauty of seeing life through the simple things is realizing the huge impact they can have on others, especially my family and friends. Unloading the dishwasher has little meaning if my thoughts are occupied with an upcoming meeting or an urgent project. But unloading the dishwasher has very much meaning if my thoughts are on the people I’m serving. When I decide to “Wash the dishes not because they are dirty nor because you are told to wash it, but because you love the person who will use it next” (Mother Teresa), the simple task comes alive as I put my love into action.
As someone who struggles with monotony, when I first came to Our Lady's Ranch a friend warned, “It is fun now, but how do you think you’ll feel when the novelty wears off? Will you still enjoy it?” Now, I recall the question as a warning against the temptation of sloth or complacency. Each day gives me a choice to either give in to boredom or use stimulation to get me through the day, or to dig deep and give meaning to my daily tasks through the lens of charity. As house manager, I can see dishes as tiresome. Or as farming assistant, I can see daily chores as monotonous. Or I can remind myself that doing dishes supports my coworkers by giving them more time to do their work, which allows the ranch to flourish, which allows us to live a peaceful life. I can remind myself that doing chores allows the animals to stay safe and healthy, which allows our customers to enjoy healthy food, all of which allows me to grow as a steward of the things I am given, which allows me to grow in virtue. To impact others beyond myself, I need to think beyond my own entertainment. It’s looking within myself where I find meaning, and looking beyond myself which keeps meaning alive.
Compared to my past jobs, managing a community space, helping to pack orders, and doing farm chores seem boring on the surface. But deep down these tasks are simple and sweet, and most importantly — they are real.
“And so, my prayer for you is that truth will bring prayer in our homes, and from the foot of prayer will be that we believe that in the poor it is Christ. And we will really believe, we will begin to love. And we will love naturally, we will try to do something. First in our own home, next door neighbor in the country we live, in the whole world.” (Mother Teresa)
Love,
Claire
Until next time, God Bless!
Tyler Straight
Oldest Zeiter Kid
OLR Design & Outreach Manager
