View From a Prairie Home

by Hege Hernfindahl, Columnist

In our amazing Bible study group last week, we talked about being grateful and content. Contentment maybe comes from being grateful and not “covet.” Being grateful for what we have. Not wanting what we can’t have…that, in my mind, is living a contented life. Contentment also comes from being kind to others, using the talents God gave us for the common good. That is what being a Christian really is. To be kind. To treat everybody with gentleness. And maybe that is what was so radical about Jesus. “The turning the other cheek” thing.

It doesn’t mean that we should not speak up when we see injustice and violence. I see turning the other cheek more as a private inner voice to do good in this world, which sometimes means to speak up against injustice and hatred. My parents, as you probably know, worked in the Norwegian underground during the Nazi occupation of Norway. They acted against a regime of hatred, bigotry and injustice. During the circumstances, the Christian thing to do. They used their talents to fight for the good in the world. And because of millions of people like them our world in many places are better than it was.

I am not going to use this article to again speak about what isn’t good in this world. What forces are at work against the Christian guidelines of justice, love and peace. The mass shootings. The road rage. The bullying. The dictatorships. The rich stealing from the poor by not giving them a living wage. No, I am going to write about contentment and peace.

How do you feel content with your life? When do you feel peace? Waking up to a beautiful sunrise? Having coffee with a good friend? Smelling the soft baby smell of your new grandchild? Listening to beautiful music?

I feel content when I am outside (no surprise there). But also, when I people I love are having a contented moment in the midst of all the tragedy that has come upon our family. I feel almost euphoric about our grandson, Nils (who is 20 and is finishing his sophomore year at Nazareth College in Rochester, NY,) when he told us he would live with us most of the summer while he does his internship at Custom Rotomold in Benson. I felt real joy when I saw a picture last week of my daughter, Ingvild, sitting gazing out at the ocean somewhere in Puerto Rico with a look of supreme peace on her face. I feel a bolt of deep love when I see my precious husband raking the leaves that I was too worn out to do.

I also feel so lucky to be able to live here on the prairie and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature awakening to the miracle of spring. The grass is slowly but surely turning green. The spring flowers are up, even though they are not blooming yet. So, I have that to look forward to. I love listening to the birds. I can hear them singing with the dawn through my open bedroom window. Every spring, we are privileged to watch a pair of wood ducks fly around in our grove, looking for a place to dwell. I hear the now yellow goldfinches excitedly chattering in the trees. Soon the orioles will come, and I will gladly feed them all the grape jelly they desire and hear their beautiful songs as they settle here for a while. We now have sandhill cranes, soaring eagles and swans. We still have quacking ducks and honking geese busily establishing their habitat and laying eggs. I could go on about the miracles of the long-awaited spring, but I will challenge you to find what you are grateful for, no matter how hard your life is. That is my spring wish for you.