The daily work of being human
Every morning, I feed the sheep before I feed myself. Let them call it chores — I call it communion. The dogs wait by their bowls with ancient patience, the sheep shuffle at the fence line, and even the wild things draw near — chickadees at the feeder, rabbits at the field’s edge, elk materializing like ghosts in the dawn mist—antelope sheltering in the valley’s embrace to birth their young before moving on.
Each creature knows its time, its place, its portion. Even the raccoons know their purpose, cleaning fallen fruit from beneath the trees, while magpies tend to death’s remains — nature’s own caretakers, making clean what we cannot.
I’ve watched osprey teach their young to hunt, hour after hour of silent failure before success. These lessons of patience and persistence echo across species and seasons. The Romans built their empire, yes, but shepherds kept their flocks through all those empires rising and falling, through peace and war, through feast and famine.
Let them praise the conquerors. The truth lives in the daily giving of grain, in the mindful measuring of meals—in the quiet wisdom of creatures who know their role in life’s great cycle.
When my grandmother taught me to make bread, she showed me how living things must be fed at their own pace — the yeast needs its time, the dough its rest, the fire its careful tending. Now I watch my dogs wait for their breakfast with that same patient wisdom.
Let them talk about grand achievements. Ethics lives in the quiet moments before dawn, when every creature’s need is honored in its turn, when the valley offers shelter to new life, when death itself is tended by winged caretakers.
These ten principles aren’t proclamations from on high. They’re worn smooth like the path to the barn, shaped by countless footsteps of those who rose each morning knowing that others depended on them. They’re simple because hunger is simple, and profound because feeding another being is profound. They’re written in the tracks of antelope passing through, in the careful clearing of fallen fruit, in the natural order that wastes nothing and serves all.
Let them seek complexity. Let them debate theory. Nature’s law is written in the patient eyes of a dog at dawn, in the steady chewing of sheep in the field, in the swoop of an osprey teaching its young to live. We’re all in this together — the fed and the hungry, the wild and the tame, the permanent and the passing-through, the givers and receivers, all of us bound by the daily ritual of need and nourishment.
What follows isn’t about perfection. It’s about being as reliable as winter hay, as trustworthy as fresh water, as present as the dawn. Like feeding the creatures in our care, it’s about showing up every day, in all weather, because that’s what makes a life worth living.
We begin where we always begin — with the giving of that which sustains.
1. Honor and Respect Life
Preserve and protect all forms of life, understanding each serves its purpose
Recognize that all roles in life’s cycle have meaning — from the magpie’s cleaning to the antelope’s passing through
Create safe harbor for the vulnerable, knowing they will move on when strong
Reject violence as a means of solving conflicts
Foster peace and understanding among all beings
2. Practice Honesty and Truth
Maintain integrity in all dealings, as clear as dawn light
Speak truthfully and act with sincerity
Let your word be as reliable as the morning feeding
Avoid deception and falsehood
3. Respect the Property of Others
Honor others’ rights to their possessions
Understand boundaries while recognizing nature’s fluid ways
Neither take nor damage what isn’t yours
Practice ethical acquisition and exchange
4. Honor Your Commitments
Be faithful to your promises and agreements
Maintain loyalty in relationships like the daily tending of animals
Practice dedication to your principles through all seasons
Show up every day, in all weather
5. Show Respect to Your Origins
Honor those who nurture and guide you
Acknowledge your heritage while growing beyond it
Learn from the wisdom of previous generations
Recognize the teachers in all forms — human, animal, and natural world
6. Cultivate Contentment
Find joy in what you have
Move lightly upon the earth like antelope
Avoid coveting others’ possessions or relationships
Practice gratitude and mindfulness in daily tasks
7. Use Time Wisely
Honor natural rhythms of work and rest
Balance the needs of all in your care
Make time for personal growth and reflection
Contribute meaningfully to your community, as each creature does its part
8. Speak with Care
Use words to heal rather than harm
Let your voice be as trustworthy as the morning routine
Avoid false testimony against others
Practice mindful speech and active listening
9. Protect the Vulnerable
Stand up for those who cannot defend themselves
Provide sanctuary without demanding permanence
Challenge injustice wherever you encounter it
Support the well-being of all living beings
10. Practice Environmental Stewardship
Care for the natural world in all its cycles
Honor nature’s patterns of cleaning and renewal
Recognize that even what seems like waste serves a purpose
Preserve resources for future generations
Live in harmony with nature’s rhythms
This is how we persist.
This is how we prevail.
This is how we keep faith with life itself.
One dawn at a time.
Images by Gael MacLean ©2024
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