Down on the Farm     Download a video of Don's Walk  (Windows Media Player required - 210 kb)
by Don Vermilyea
Having lived most of my life in the mountains, I never experienced geese like this year. November and December brought tens of thousands of Canadian geese close to Clairvaux Farm. Watching them taking off and landing has been something I'll long remember. Seeing and hearing hundreds of geese flying in a "V" amazed me over and over again.

And then the snow geese arrived. Only once prior to 2001 had I seen those magnificent birds. Many times this fall I saw a thousand or more on the ground and many hundreds of others overhead. Wow! The eastern shore of Maryland is indeed a special place.

It's so easy to take life's gifts for granted and not live a life of gratitude for what we are all blessed with. I know some in the mountains who hardly notice the beauty of where they live. No doubt some of us who live on the eastern shore don't pay much attention to the beauty and miracles of God's creation either.

Just before I arrived in February we had two very large trees professionally cut down and this summer I gave the "snake tree" a "haircut." Numerous work groups and residents helped me cutting, splitting, hauling, and stacking large amounts of brush and firewood.

On purpose, volunteer work groups I've had the pleasure of hangin' out with this year, haven't been mentioned in "Down on the Farm." I haven't wanted to make one group seem better than another and I still don't want to create this impression. One of the last groups of the year helped me out so much I'd like to share my gratitude for them with you. Fifteen volunteers from the Chesapeake City and Pencader Presbyterian Churches ranging in age from eight to sixty-something really made my day November 17. That day, Jane, a Meeting Ground friend, rented a log splitter for us. The volunteers selflessly worked with Barb and me doing whatever we had to do to turn those huge, mean, knotty pieces of wood into firewood between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Much was accomplished during those six hours. Anyone who thinks an eight-year-old isn't capable of much should have been here with us.

After they left, the sun was sinking in the west, there was still a huge pile of wood to split, and I had to return the splitter by eight o'clock the next morning. I started splitting wood by myself and rather than going home Barb, who works here, asked, "Need any help?" I wanted to say, "is the Pope Catholic?" but replied with a simple "yes" and we were two. Then Dave, who like me lives here, appeared like an angel and we were three. A half hour later Mike, who also lives here, arrived and we were four. We worked hard till after dark using the truck's headlights to see. Finally we had the wood split up.

Usually those who volunteer at Meeting Ground help in ways that aren't directly a large help to me. That November day and night eighteen helped me in ways that saved me a month's work. I'm not very often deeply moved with gratitude toward others. November 17 was one of the special days when people from all walks of life came together, joyfully giving so even an old kill-joy like me would have to experience real gratitude. Like the geese of Clairvaux Farm, that day will be long remembered by me. I need a gratitude check every so often. Thanks to all eighteen of you!

This will be my last "Down on the Farm" because on February 1st I'll be in Tucson, Arizona beginning a many year walk across America for my Church ( the Church of the Brethren). From Arizona I'll head to California, and then Oregon and Washington. It will take a year just to complete the west coast "leg," stopping at Church of the Brethren congregations, retirement villages, camps, and universities, along with anyplace else I'm invited. Then it will be time to head east for many years. From the moment I step off the bus in Tucson, I won't be riding in vehicles, staying in motels, or eating in restaurants, until the walk is over. I'll be depending on people like you.

This walk is about peace and justice for all of God's creation. True peace is only possible if we do His will and not our own and if we put others before ourselves. True peace is not possible when there are places like our country with so much and other places like the Sudan with so little. True peace is not possible when we use up God's creation at such an alarming rate. Even at Meeting Ground we have so much compared to most of the rest of the world.

When we believe it's okay that some are homeless, addicted to drugs or alcohol, and violence is okay under certain circumstances, true peace is not possible. It's also not possible when we view differences in skin color, nationality, or religion as more important than whether someone is short, tall or right- or left-handed. When we attach our prejudices to anything, true peace is not possible.

Jesus Christ says in Matthew 22:36-40, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." These words are very clear to me. We must live our lives much differently then we do now if we want to be part of a truly peaceful world.

The Meeting Ground website will be tracking where I'm physically located during the walk. There will also be a link from Meeting Ground to the Church of the Brethren website: www.brethren.org/genbd/witness where the walk will be chronicled. Carl will keep you informed of any changes or additions to the website. I hope as I walk on by your town or before I get there you'll invite me to stop in. Lord willing maybe we will meet someday.

It's been a wonderful experience being at the Farm and fun writing "Down on the Farm." Thank you for reading "Loaves and Fishes." Thank you for being a supporter of Meeting Ground in whatever ways you are. You are always welcome here. Please pray for peace, true peace, true peace for all.

In Christ's love, Don

P.S. A special thank you to you, Schaunel!