The day the cows escaped

“

bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you”

(Matthew 5:44). It boiled over the day the cows got out. Vernon Miller and Henry Weaver lost it, yelling at each other, their simmering feud erupting over this latest incident. Vernon blamed Henry for cutting the fence, and Henry spit out expletives about Vernon’s lack of intelligence. The short of it was Vernon blamed Henry for infringing on his property and Henry blamed Vernon for not being a better caretaker of his cows. What had been tit for tat exchanges now became an outright war of words, unfiltered hatred one for the other. Their anger toward each other, once held within the confines of their own house, now spewed over face-to-face. Vernon Miller was a proud fourth generation farmer in Martin County, Indiana, near Loogootee on the western side of the county. He knew the people, their ways, and held fast to their traditions. The locals, including Vernon, remained wary of outsiders. Because most Martin County folk were generational, change moved slowly. Most outsiders worked for the government office in Loogootee. Good manners obligated the people of Loogootee to welcome them, but reality suggested they were only tolerated. Every relation between the locals and the outsiders remained arm’s length. Henry had come to work for the government office and had retired there. Henry and his wife liked the area and its way of life. There had been the occasional rub from being an outsider, but apart from his problem with Vernon, most had accepted the Weavers. The issue began a few years before the cows escaped. Vernon kept finding discarded items on his side of the fence. He already thought Henry was different enough to believe he was the culprit. Over time, there were other exchanges beginning with the words, “You ought,” and “How about minding your own business.” Neither ever thought the other innocent. There was only one church in Loogootee. Even there, the Weavers sat on one side and the Millers on the other, each keeping to their group of friends, speaking as politeness dictated but never conversing. But both families heard the same sermon, especially the day the preacher spoke about doing good to those who hate you. The pastor used scripture from Genesis when the good book said darkness was over the surface of the deep and the spirit of God swept over the water. God then said, let there be light, and there was light. God is good that way. The scripture made a fine metaphor for God’s presence and truth over the troubled water of life. Vernon and Henry knew about troubled water. Vernon’s anger closed his ears to the sermon, seeing God and life only in human terms. Henry, feeling remorseful about his outburst against Vernon, allowed the message to seep through to his heart. He realized no real injustice had occurred, that sin’s deceitfulness had won the day. God had tapped him on the shoulder, reminding him God had a greater purpose. Meanwhile, Vernon’s anger hardened. He never realized the problem was with him.