Seven years ago, Rose saw a squirrel up in this tree. Every since then, every time she has passed by this tree, she pursues the squirrel, watches for it. I have never seen this squirrel since the first day, but Rose does not quit on things. I hope she gets him one day. She deserves it.
Now, I am fortunate enough to be able to share the experience. Yesterday, when we went for a walk during a rain and windstorm, I saw Rose up ahead looking for the squirrel. I didn’t have my video camera, but I did have my Iphone. So I can share this experience, familiar perhaps, to people with obsessive border collies (is there any other kind?) Come along with Rose as she pursues her Imaginary Squirrel.
For me, the notion of wisdom is learning each day that I know next to nothing, and I have no idea what other people ought to do with their lives. My good friend and spiritual teacher Mary Muncil e-mailed me the other morning and said she had an idea about sponsoring a contest on her website giving away some of the skin balm potion she makes. Was it a good idea, she asked?
I thought about it and didn’t really like the idea. To me, contests seemed gimmicky, and I couldn’t quite imagine doing one for my blog or books. I e-mailed her and said I wasn’t sure about it, but Mary is a lot like me, and I saw that the contest was already up on her website. I felt a flash of irritation. Why had she asked me if she didn’t even want to wait for opinion? But the truth is, she didn’t need to ask me and I really had no idea what might work for her.
Of course, it was a huge success. People loved it and she sold a ton of skil balm before the days’ end. The contest was easy, a lot of fun, and the growing numbers of people on her excellent blog had a blast.
I saw Mary the next morning and we laughed about it. You know, Mary, I said, I am really learning that I have no idea about other people. I used to think I did, and spent a lot of time and energy worrying about what other people ought to. It was exhausting as well as fruitless.
I really know next to nothing, and that is the most liberating and wonderful feeling in the world.
I know, she said.
Here is a video of “Cows On The Move,” during an ice storm yesterday at Million Acres Farm in Salem, N.Y.
