While out walking this week, I came across a row of three Angus calves sticking their necks as far as they could through a barbed wire fence in an attempt to reach as much of the green grass growing in the roadside ditch as possible.
They are not alone. All along the edge of the field where they are pastured, the ground is trodden free of growth as the herd of cows to which they belong constantly traverses the fence looking for bits of luscious grass just beyond the fence.
I mused on this scene as I walked on. At the top of the hill, I came to the corner of the pasture, where the owner has cordoned off a section about twenty feet square. It can only be accessed via a barrier that is just wide enough to allow the entrance of calves but not adult cows. Inside, containers hold specialized feed loaded with nutrients that are designed to supplement the diet and boost the growth of the younger animals.
And yet, who was there sticking their necks as far as they possibly could in a vain attempt to reach the alluring feed inside? You guessed it. Several older calves and adult cows who longed desperately to access the tempting feed inside the enclosure.
I pondered this as I continued my walk. Shortly down the road, I came across a sire in the adjoining pasture. This massive bull, in the prime of his life, was standing at the edge of the fence looking longingly across the road to yet another pasture full of cows. More than looking, he was bellowing.
It apparently did not matter to him that he already had what amounts to a small harem of his own right there in the pasture with him. He already ruled over a small herd of at least twenty cows, none of which were more than a stone’s throw from him at the time. What he clearly wanted was what was in the pasture on the other side of the fence.
As I continued along, I found myself noting the commonality of all three observances. In each and every case, the parties involved were not satisfied with what they had been given. Instead, their appetites drove them to long for what they could not rightfully have.
There seems to be no better metaphor to apply here than that of the proverbial grass being greener on the other side of the fence! For in all I observed, this was true both literally and figuratively.
Cattle are not alone in this desire. We humans also tend to be ignore what we have been given in favor what we have not been given. All too often, we find ourselves looking for greener pastures. The question is why! What is it that makes us want what is not rightfully ours?
The best answer I know of is found in Genesis chapter 3. Here we read where Adam and Eve chose not to be satisfied with all they had in the garden and to partake instead of the fruit of the one tree they had been forbidden to consume. At that point, sin entered the world.
Ever since that point, we have all struggled with wanting what we cannot have. As we do, at the least, we look longingly over the fence. And at the worst, we jump the fence and partake!
To those reading this who may even now be standing at the fence and looking longingly over at greener pastures, I would offer a thought or two. To begin with, if the grass looks greener on the other side, remember the admonition of Erma Bombeck who once famously reminded us that the grass is always greener over the septic tank!
In case it is not obvious enough already, the point here is that the what looks like an ideal situation beyond the fence, where greener grass appears to be growing, may well be a case where there are “underlying” issues! Jump that fence and dig a little deeper and you may well have regrets!
Second, once you jump that fence, and partake of the vaunted green grass you so desperately sought, be prepared for that moment (which will certainly come) when you look back at the pasture you left behind and long to return to where you had it made to begin with! Simply put, the grass may well begin to look greener back where you came from!
Jerry Lee Lewis was the first, but not the last artist, to remind us that we can reach the point where we find ourselves longing for the green, green grass of home. As he put it:
“The old home town looks the same
As I step down from the train,
And there to meet me is my Mama and Papa.
Down the road I look and there runs Mary,
Hair of gold and lips like cherries.
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.
Yes, they'll all come to meet me,
Arms reaching, smiling sweetly.
It's good to touch the green, green, grass of home.
The old house is still standing,
Though the paint is cracked and dry,
And there's that old oak tree that I used to play on.
Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary,
Hair of gold and lips like cherries.
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.
Then I awake and look around me
At four grey walls that surround me,
And I realize: yes, I was only dreaming.
For there's a guard and there's a sad old padre.
On and on, we'll walk at daybreak.
Again I'll touch the green, green grass of home.
Yes, they'll all come to see me
In the shade of that old oak tree
As they lay me ‘neath the green, green grass of home.”
I quoted this song here in its entirety precisely because of how it ends! Sadly, far too many people have gone so far beyond the fence chasing greener pastures that they have risked not ever being able to go back!
Don’t make that mistake! Instead, learn to follow the admonition of the Apostle Paul, who once testified: “In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content … I am able to do all this through Him who strengthens me.”
With Christ, all things are indeed possible. And this definitely includes the ability to be satisfied with everything God has given you!
SOURCES:
SONG LYRICS:
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/tomjones/greengreengrassofhome.html.
SCRIPTURE:
https://biblehub.com/nasb_/philippians/4.htm.
They are not alone. All along the edge of the field where they are pastured, the ground is trodden free of growth as the herd of cows to which they belong constantly traverses the fence looking for bits of luscious grass just beyond the fence.
I mused on this scene as I walked on. At the top of the hill, I came to the corner of the pasture, where the owner has cordoned off a section about twenty feet square. It can only be accessed via a barrier that is just wide enough to allow the entrance of calves but not adult cows. Inside, containers hold specialized feed loaded with nutrients that are designed to supplement the diet and boost the growth of the younger animals.
And yet, who was there sticking their necks as far as they possibly could in a vain attempt to reach the alluring feed inside? You guessed it. Several older calves and adult cows who longed desperately to access the tempting feed inside the enclosure.
I pondered this as I continued my walk. Shortly down the road, I came across a sire in the adjoining pasture. This massive bull, in the prime of his life, was standing at the edge of the fence looking longingly across the road to yet another pasture full of cows. More than looking, he was bellowing.
It apparently did not matter to him that he already had what amounts to a small harem of his own right there in the pasture with him. He already ruled over a small herd of at least twenty cows, none of which were more than a stone’s throw from him at the time. What he clearly wanted was what was in the pasture on the other side of the fence.
As I continued along, I found myself noting the commonality of all three observances. In each and every case, the parties involved were not satisfied with what they had been given. Instead, their appetites drove them to long for what they could not rightfully have.
There seems to be no better metaphor to apply here than that of the proverbial grass being greener on the other side of the fence! For in all I observed, this was true both literally and figuratively.
Cattle are not alone in this desire. We humans also tend to be ignore what we have been given in favor what we have not been given. All too often, we find ourselves looking for greener pastures. The question is why! What is it that makes us want what is not rightfully ours?
The best answer I know of is found in Genesis chapter 3. Here we read where Adam and Eve chose not to be satisfied with all they had in the garden and to partake instead of the fruit of the one tree they had been forbidden to consume. At that point, sin entered the world.
Ever since that point, we have all struggled with wanting what we cannot have. As we do, at the least, we look longingly over the fence. And at the worst, we jump the fence and partake!
To those reading this who may even now be standing at the fence and looking longingly over at greener pastures, I would offer a thought or two. To begin with, if the grass looks greener on the other side, remember the admonition of Erma Bombeck who once famously reminded us that the grass is always greener over the septic tank!
In case it is not obvious enough already, the point here is that the what looks like an ideal situation beyond the fence, where greener grass appears to be growing, may well be a case where there are “underlying” issues! Jump that fence and dig a little deeper and you may well have regrets!
Second, once you jump that fence, and partake of the vaunted green grass you so desperately sought, be prepared for that moment (which will certainly come) when you look back at the pasture you left behind and long to return to where you had it made to begin with! Simply put, the grass may well begin to look greener back where you came from!
Jerry Lee Lewis was the first, but not the last artist, to remind us that we can reach the point where we find ourselves longing for the green, green grass of home. As he put it:
“The old home town looks the same
As I step down from the train,
And there to meet me is my Mama and Papa.
Down the road I look and there runs Mary,
Hair of gold and lips like cherries.
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.
Yes, they'll all come to meet me,
Arms reaching, smiling sweetly.
It's good to touch the green, green, grass of home.
The old house is still standing,
Though the paint is cracked and dry,
And there's that old oak tree that I used to play on.
Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary,
Hair of gold and lips like cherries.
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.
Then I awake and look around me
At four grey walls that surround me,
And I realize: yes, I was only dreaming.
For there's a guard and there's a sad old padre.
On and on, we'll walk at daybreak.
Again I'll touch the green, green grass of home.
Yes, they'll all come to see me
In the shade of that old oak tree
As they lay me ‘neath the green, green grass of home.”
I quoted this song here in its entirety precisely because of how it ends! Sadly, far too many people have gone so far beyond the fence chasing greener pastures that they have risked not ever being able to go back!
Don’t make that mistake! Instead, learn to follow the admonition of the Apostle Paul, who once testified: “In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content … I am able to do all this through Him who strengthens me.”
With Christ, all things are indeed possible. And this definitely includes the ability to be satisfied with everything God has given you!
SOURCES:
SONG LYRICS:
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/tomjones/greengreengrassofhome.html.
SCRIPTURE:
https://biblehub.com/nasb_/philippians/4.htm.