Catholic Carnival 200: Shearing the Sheep
This week, I'm inviting you to our barn, where we'll be holding a rather unique edition of the Catholic Carnival.
*Before I get too much farther, let's reflect on this 200th week of the Carnival, though we'll stick with chuckles and avoid the tears.
As you may know, this weekend we celebrated the feast of Christ the King. The Old Testament reading, from Ezekiel (sorry for the earlier misspelling of that!), reminded me that I've been meaning to share this farm experience of shearing the sheep on my blog. And in the Gospel reading from Matthew, that part about separating the sheep, you see, just caught - and held - my attention. Have you ever tried to separate sheep? By yourself? Me neither, but I've watched a few people try and fail, try and succeed. Both readings also made me think - again - about just how on target Jesus was when he used all those analogies with sheep.
*Have you reflected on the readings from this weekend's celebration of Christ the King? Here's a good start for that.
*While we're talking about Christ the King Sunday, you might consider how it all started, and what we can learn from a brief history lesson.
In the seven - or is it eight? - years since I've been Catholic, the scripture passages that have seemed to shout the loudest at me have been the ones that speak to my experiences. Not all of them have to do with sheep or farm life, but often they do speak to the part of me that likes to have busy hands and an occupied mind.
So, this week, join us on our farm here in Ohio, for a lesson in shearing the sheep. Many of you, I'm guessing, have never been this close to real live sheep, except maybe at a petting zoo or at the county fair. You might want to run back in the house to put on some barn boots (shoes that you don't mind getting dirty) and you'll definitely want to make sure you're dressed warmly (our weather's been a lot on the freezing-cold-how-do-people-live-like-this end of the spectrum).
While we walk through the barn, we'll be sure to talk about the posts from this week's Catholic Carnival too. I have found that we have some of the most interesting conversations out in the barn, with the smell of hay mingling with an undercurrent of manure and warm bodies and metal.
*Are you looking for a good book? Years ago - OK, not so long ago - I used to go to our barns (and I imagine my kids will someday too) with a good book or three. Why don't we try out Dante after we're done with the shearing?
*While we're walking, let's put thoughts of Thanksgiving craziness aside. Well, maybe we should, instead, take the advice included in this poem.
It's not a far walk from the warmth of the house to the chill of the barn, and you'll notice during that short walk that we have some company:
That turquoise trailer is where the shearing magic will happen. Greg the Shearer of Sheep comes every spring and every fall, and though this is a pretty distinctive set-up (that orange wagon in front is not relevant to our discussion - my set-up crew wouldn't re-stage the scene for me and I didn't have the gumption to Photoshop it out), I've only ever seen it in front of my barn. Greg must have a pretty far-and-wide range for his business.
*I'm pretty sure there must be a moment when Greg looks out at the sheep lined up, in a tangled white line, and wonders how he'll do it all. This week, we would do well to consider how ready we are for the Kingdom of God.
*There's always music blaring somewhere - from Greg's trailer or from the barn, I'm not sure. We are pretty musical people, we Catholics, aren't we? Some songs are more inspiring than others...what are your favorites?
Tucked behind that turquoise shearing trailer is the livestock trailer with the ewes (mom sheep) who don't live in our barn; Shepherd Dan brings them all over here from the three or four different places he keeps them, among the different farms.
The breed we have, in case you were interested, are registered Hampshires. In my opinion, the only thing cuter is a Hereford cow and calf. (And yes, I'm being completely serious.) These ladies look cozy and warm, don't they? Imagine two wool sweaters, and you have an idea of just how comfortable they are in our lower-than-average November weather.
*Wool is a way that God prepared our sheep for the weather, though it doesn't do them any good when it gets too long. That's why we shear. In a completely un-sheeply parable, we find reminders of readiness we would do well to keep in mind.
*Perhaps you've seen the Chik-fil-A ads boasting a cow that encourages us to "eat more chickn." I'm pretty sure there are turkeys all over the U.S. with the same signs. :) But the truth is, God blessed us with agricultural technology (which includes domesticated animals). God also blessed us with so much more. There is the traditional Thanksgiving Day Mass, for one thing.
Maybe you've been wondering what the inside of a shearing trailer would look like:
Note the long line on the right - the sheep are lined up there and they wait (sometimes not so patiently). I'm always impressed at how guy-like the inside of the trailer is. I can't be the only woman who's set foot near it, of course, but there's a masculine flavor to it that screams "No human female shall decorate me or dress me up" that I recognize from the shop my dad used to skin muskrats in during my early childhood. All the same, it's sort of...cozy...don't you think?
*While we're waiting in line here (and rubbing our hands together in our gloves!), let's talk about Friday abstinence. Just what is it? Why would we consider meatless Fridays all year long?
*And speaking of things we should all understand, how about this news about abortion as an inalienable human right and the accompanying petition? This way of reasoning is so alien...it makes me go all farm-girl-postal and wonder what kind of changes would happen in the world if everyone had to work physically hard on a farm for a few years of their life... (No, I don't really think that would solve everything.)
*While we're on that topic, here's a reminder about the least among us, a fitting reflection given our Advent preparations and the Sunday Gospel for this last weekend.
When it's time for the next ewe, Shearer Greg or his Young Assistant (whose name I can't remember, with many apologies) do what I can only describe as the Ewe Flip:
Maybe that is why the whole thing feels so masculine...these ewes aren't lightweights (my husband tells me they average 200 pounds) and Shearer Greg just flips them by their neck. Anyone else need to pause for a moment to do some stretching and line up a back massage?
*Now that you've broken into a sweat just watching Greg at work, you might be ready for a break. Why don't we talk turkey some more with a collection of great links?
*Or maybe you've had it with the cold. In that case, let's go see a fabulous movie, shall we?
But there are rewards for this physical activity. The Jack Russell Terror who doesn't know he's not a sheep dog will leap on the prone ewe and lick your face:
I just noticed how many tools and gadgets Shearer Greg has in his shearing trailer. I should interview him in the spring, when he's here next, to tell you more about why he needs all those contraptions.
*Contraptions, however, might not be your thing. Maybe books are. In that case, here's a deal you won't want to miss.
*You know, this reminds me...Advent is right around the corner! Have you examined your conscience lately?
And now, the moment you've been waiting for: the actual shearing of a sheep:
I'm told that working with sheep gives you wonderfully soft hands. It's all that lanolin.
*Working with Catholics, I've found, gives you wonderful things to talk about, such as the top three reasons you love being Catholic. What are your top three reasons?
*Chesterton might make your list (being in good company and all of that), and so let's have some Chesterton talk. (If we're here all day, don't worry. I have plenty of food in the house!)
As the Young Assistant finishes up this ewe, our friend the Jack Russell Terror comes over to say hi:
A lot of people tell me he's cute. I offer to send him home with them. No one ever takes us up on that offer (even Shearer Greg).
*But when someone offers me twelve tips to a better Advent, I take them up on them!
*And speaking of Advent again, let's look forward to this coming Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of our New Year on the liturgical calendar, shall we?
When the sheep are all sheared, the wool is swept up and put into that big bag to the left of the trailer. When the bigger kids are around, they take turns jumping on it and smooshing it down.
Hampshire sheep are a meat breed, and their wool isn't worth anything. You can do some research (or stick around here long enough and I'll work up a post, someday) about the difference between meat and wool breeds of sheep. It's quite interesting.
*In our Church, we have a wide variety of saints, living and dead, and it's always refreshing and interesting to learn about someone new (of the living variety).
*Wool and meat might be somewhat mutually exclusive within sheep breeds, but joy and sorrow intertwine in our journeys through life.
The ewes look quite a bit different once they're sheared. Can you find the sheared and unsheared sheep in this picture?
As I was documenting this for you, our neighbor and fellow shepherd told me that shearing is an important part of keeping your animals healthy. There are quite a few reasons for this. Most of these mamas will lamb in January, and getting rid of that dirty wool helps keep things clean. I'd tell you the others, but, honestly, I don't remember this. (In the spirit of transparency, I shot these photos a year ago, and I have forgotten, in the course of the last year, just what my wise farmer friend told me. Will you forgive me and have some Google searching fun of your own?)
*Forgiveness is an ongoing part of my faith journey. Though I'm not sure of its Catholic roots, we had a submission this week that made me think some more about forgiveness, and maybe it will inspire you as well, perhaps to seek Confession as we prepare for Advent.
*And, on a different note, this week we celebrated the Presentation of Mary, which is always worth a pause and some consideration.
You might be wondering where the rams are. Well, as with most livestock, adult male sheep get their own pens (except for breeding season), and they also get special treatment. All that testosterone makes them, most of the time, a little less than friendly and easy-to-pet. From what I understand, Shepherd Dan shears the rams himself, with the help of probably at least two other muscled men and his lovely wife.
Thanks so much for joining us this week!
*But wait! It appears we almost missed some Thanksgiving prayers via the Twittersphere (did I really just type that out like it's a bona fide word?!).
I'm so glad you could join us! Now let's get inside and get some hot chocolate or tea and continue our great conversation, shall we?
If you would like to learn more about the Catholic Carnival, you’ll find all the information here. Next week's Carnival is scheduled to be hosted by This That and the Other Thing. There’s a submission form that’s easy to use, and a Google group you can join to get weekly reminders. If you have found yourself submitting a few times, won’t you consider going one step further and trying your hand at hosting? All you have to do is pick your date and email Jay.
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