Fresh fields
Fresh fields: an older phrase perhaps falling into a little disuse these days. What does it mean? It means moving on to pastures new, yet another farming analogy thrown in there, or rather just changing something in your life.
This can come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are minor, some of them spectacular. Changing jobs, romances, partnerships, places to live and work, spiritual disposition, the list goes on.
Sometimes when we hear the words fresh fields or new pastures, we may have been invited to them without asking for them. A company takeover happens, your family is relocating as a child then you have to go with them, the breakup with the lover or spouse. Sometimes the fresh fields are forced upon us, and they feel more like a delivery of manure than the morning sun rising on some beautiful new horizon.
Nevertheless, regardless of whether we are involved in deciding what the new direction is, or whether it’s been foisted upon us, we have to make the best of it.
Probably the first thing that happens as we start to imagine what it’s going to be like in these new fresh fields. What will I need to do differently, will I need new skills or attitude, will I need to adjust, what will I need to take with me? And if others are coming along, how do I convince them that this is a good idea or an inevitable one? These things are often milling around our heads, or hearts as we try and determine how best to deal with things.
In my own life, I’ve been through many transitions that could be defined as fresh fields. Certainly, meeting my wife in South Africa many years ago called for many fresh fields to appear on the horizon in a very short period. Marriage. Immigration to a new country. New jobs. All within a matter of months.
Other changes can be more minor, a change of home, new hobbies or skills, perhaps new friends. The interesting thing about fresh fields, particularly if there’s more than one going with you to these new fresh fields, is that everyone sees them slightly differently. What you might see as an advantage and an opportunity, creates worry and terror running through the veins of those you are bringing with you. Children are very adaptable to change, but like the rest of us we develop habits, we have places that are close to our hearts, things in familiar surroundings; and we are often reluctant to leave them.
In my own life I have seen people who have made massive changes, move to many fresh fields over time, and those who have done less. Those who remained in the town or the country of their birth, and their families now live close to and around them. It is not a one-size-fits-all; these fresh fields. We can resist the fields, and grow hedges that obscure our vision so we don’t have to look that far ahead or make those decisions. I can’t say that I see anything wrong with that. But for others wanting to look over the hedge, just wanting to see what’s in those fields just a little distance away, it is what motivates us. Again, I do not see anything wrong with either.
However, I do think the willingness to look at fresh fields, and to be open, if not just for yourself, then for the others around you is a healthy disposition. When I was young, I always quoted myself two things. As if I needed reminding, actually I think I did need reminding which is why I continued to quote them to myself.
These are:
there is no rewind button in life and there are only two variables in life time and how you use it.
This doesn’t mean that we don’t have regrets, and when we do have regrets, we can perhaps adapt our lives so we don’t regret them a second time, or in some cases the third time. And yet there’s also a willingness that should be present, a desire to take some risk, to move into some of those fresh fields, perhaps learning a new skill, meeting new people, modifying your attitude in some way, that is important.
It’s important because it may change how we feel about the fresh fields before we see them, before we reach them, before we settle in them.
Image and Reflection Copyright 2024 Michael J. Cunningham OFS