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Out Our Way: Herd love

Out our way, there are lessons to be learned daily if one is awake. Take for example the lesson of love. Dogs taught me that love is not limited to human beings, but cows taught me it is not limited to individuals. Indeed,cows taught me it is possible for love to embrace a large group of individuals.

Now some ranchers have remarked how various cows sort of "buddy up" and do everything together as close friends. Yes, cows have favorites! Who knew? But what really touched me was the discovery of the mothering instinct of the herd, especially how one cow will stay behind to watch the calves while the rest go off to graze and water. That is "group love," caring for each other because they are part of the herd.

It should not surprise us then to discover that human beings are supposed to have that same instinct, that same "herd love." What is surprising is how many of us have actively sought to squelch it. Instead of bonding together, we divide ourselves and push apart. Cattle know that the herd's unity is their safety net. A lion will think twice before attacking a whole herd, but a lone maverick is just asking for it.

One image of Satan - or evil or the power of darkness, etc. - is that of the lion stalking the herd, picking off strays. Not a bad image to keep in mind these days as millions are being spent by corrupt politicians, corporations, and ego-centric billionaires to divide us as a people. Sewing seeds of distrust, prejudice, and division, we are being scattered. We are being encouraged to lose our instinct for "herd love" and replace it with selfishness. "Love your neighbor" has been replaced with " despise your neighbor" and "blame your neighbor." And the herd is being broken up. Every day we see news of young foolish people destroying their neighbors' homes, businesses, property and of course, reputation with hate speech and bigotry, always in the name of "social justice and humanity," of course. And the growing darkness reminds us that the division is destroying the herd.

What a contrast to the herd instinct of a group of Angus staying together, watching out for one another, strengthening each other by strengthening the herd by bonding instead of scattering it. Wish we could help folks that have lost the basic herd instinct up on the ridge to watch cattle show us what ought to be commonsense and human nature at its best. Sometimes you have to turn off the news and take a ride to the pasture to really wake up and get the big picture.

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Brother John

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The Rev. John Bruington is the retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Havre. He now lives in Colorado, but continues to write "Out Our Way."

 

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