Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. Genesis 9:1-4 (NIV)
This weekend was spent running here and there with our kiddos and their friends. It's exhausting, but we wouldn't have it any other way. It was great family/friend time. As we were dropping one of the extras off and near the area where the old slaughter house used to be, a conversation started.
Jay and I told the kids that when we were in 8th grade and taking the Intro to Ag class, we did a unit on the various cuts of meat and took a field trip to the local slaughter house, where we experienced the entire process. From start to finish.
Like, everything.
Live cow. Dead cow. Skinned cow. Cuts of meat.
I think back on that now and can't even believe that was a school-approved activity...but I'm thinking of it in terms of present day.
Back in the day, it's what we did. There wasn't much discussion about it because, after all, that is the natural process of what goes on between the cow standing in the field and the hamburger or steak we eat. Plain and simple.
We are meat eaters and accept that that is the process.
We are also Christians and believe that animals like a cow, for instance, were created by God to nourish our bodies.
I can only imagine what kind of chaos would ensue if this field trip were suggested today. We must protect our kids from these horrific images - you know, the blood, the guts, the gore. It could cause real psychological damage.
But it's okay if they watch gory movies and play bloody video games because they're only pretend.
Oh, how I wish sometimes we were back in the day...
Showing posts with label America. Show all posts
Showing posts with label America. Show all posts
Monday, September 29, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
What were you doing...
thirteen years ago, about 7:45 a.m.? I remember it clearly. I was doing what I always did Monday through Friday, I was driving down Route 1 on my way to work. My mother called me, which was a little unusual because I had just dropped Madolyn off at her house. I was passing through an area where I didn't have great reception, but I was able to answer her call. I heard every word she said, but was perplexed by it. It didn't really click with me the enormity of the situation until I got to work and turned on my computer.
I remained glued to that computer almost all day. Watching the coverage, reading the latest updates, waiting for what was to happen next. Wondering how it would affect me...I mean, really affect me on a personal level. Because isn't that what we are all really worried about when it comes down to a situation like that. How will my life change?
I didn't know anyone that was murdered by the terrorists. I live miles and miles away from New York, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon, it doesn't really affect me. Oh, but it did, and still does.
It's one of those life-changing events. We all have them, whether on a personal level or something like this. You hear the elder generation talking about where they were when they got the news that President Kennedy had been assassinated,when John Lennon was killed, about the attack on Pearl Harbor, when Elvis died, etc. Unfortunately, I'm compiling my own list like that, the Challenger disaster, Princess Diana's death, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, etc.
On the evening of 9/11 when I left work, I tried to get gas and it was a nightmare. There were lines at every gas station, causing traffic jams (even in little Lawrenceville), the gas prices had been jacked way up, but everyone was still in a panic and determined to get what they could right then..before it wasn't available at all. Because that was the fear, that afternoon for me at least...not knowing what the future would hold, scared the gasoline supply would be shut off. My plan that evening was to top off the tank, no matter what the cost, and get home to watch and wait...wondering if it the attacks were over.
Hearing amazing stories that would come out of the tragedy later brought some sense of light to the darkness caused that day. There were many who became heroes, some lived to tell about it, others did not. I cannot even begin to understand what it would've been like to have received a telephone call from a loved one, who moments later, would be crushed to death. It seems surreal.
I wonder what our kids will think of this history lesson. Will they understand how scary it was that day, waiting to see if there would be more attacks, wondering if there were terrorists planted throughout the United States waiting to set off a chain reaction of destruction and despair? My guess is they will not get it, unfortunately, until they have their own life-changing event like I mentioned before. I know I sure didn't.
I remained glued to that computer almost all day. Watching the coverage, reading the latest updates, waiting for what was to happen next. Wondering how it would affect me...I mean, really affect me on a personal level. Because isn't that what we are all really worried about when it comes down to a situation like that. How will my life change?
I didn't know anyone that was murdered by the terrorists. I live miles and miles away from New York, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon, it doesn't really affect me. Oh, but it did, and still does.
It's one of those life-changing events. We all have them, whether on a personal level or something like this. You hear the elder generation talking about where they were when they got the news that President Kennedy had been assassinated,when John Lennon was killed, about the attack on Pearl Harbor, when Elvis died, etc. Unfortunately, I'm compiling my own list like that, the Challenger disaster, Princess Diana's death, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, etc.
On the evening of 9/11 when I left work, I tried to get gas and it was a nightmare. There were lines at every gas station, causing traffic jams (even in little Lawrenceville), the gas prices had been jacked way up, but everyone was still in a panic and determined to get what they could right then..before it wasn't available at all. Because that was the fear, that afternoon for me at least...not knowing what the future would hold, scared the gasoline supply would be shut off. My plan that evening was to top off the tank, no matter what the cost, and get home to watch and wait...wondering if it the attacks were over.
Hearing amazing stories that would come out of the tragedy later brought some sense of light to the darkness caused that day. There were many who became heroes, some lived to tell about it, others did not. I cannot even begin to understand what it would've been like to have received a telephone call from a loved one, who moments later, would be crushed to death. It seems surreal.
I wonder what our kids will think of this history lesson. Will they understand how scary it was that day, waiting to see if there would be more attacks, wondering if there were terrorists planted throughout the United States waiting to set off a chain reaction of destruction and despair? My guess is they will not get it, unfortunately, until they have their own life-changing event like I mentioned before. I know I sure didn't.
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