Thoughts from here and There…Tumbledown Barn
The house can hardly be seen for the mature trees that surround it. The barn is slowly collapsing. The north gable has tilted in and is in danger of total collapse. The east wall is held in place by an old silo. The west wall is bulging in and it is only a matter of time before it finally collapses in.
For ten years I watched the ravages of weather and time take its toll on what once was a sturdy and practical barn for the housing of livestock, hay and milking machine.
If you listen you can still hear the voices of the people discussing the days events, the weather or the coming storm. How are the crops? Will milk prices stay up so that we can keep milking? Do you want to know what I saw in the field today? The sounds of children playing were hushed by tired parents who, after a long days work, looked for a little peace and rest.
In the barn is the rustle of cattle chewing the cud from the feed and hay that had been given to them. The cat stalks the illusive mouse. The soft whir of wings of the barn owl moves through the air as it exits to hunt for its evening meal. Now the only thing that is heard is the wrenching of once solid timbers and they are pulled apart and laid to rest in unnatural positions.
There is something about the old Amby Sullivan farm on Highway 14, west of Arena, that reminds you of what happens when property is sold, people die, and there is no one to care for what was once very important, but now the buildings are worthless.
No maintenance has been done for years. Does this remind us of our lives as we face a New Year? What are we going to do. Neglect leads to decay. Attention to detail in our religious life with the proper maintenance leads to life. We cannot afford to neglect prayer, Bible reading, and worship attendance. These help us to grow strong and to maintain what we have. God will help us to take care of the rest. So, when you make a New Year’s promise, that is if you do, hold on to the better part.