Living without a clock

This morning I read a guest post on the blog First Ways. It was by forager Fergus Drennan about tapping birch trees. What arrested me was this statement:

". . . As with all foraging, it provides an excuse and opportunity to arrange your life according to the cycles of nature rather than the oppressive dictates of work routines and the terrible tick-tock tyranny of clock time or even traditional calendars."

He is describing a way of living that I wish I could fully join. To know the change of seasons by the activities of wildlife, the appearance of certain plants, and the movement of the heavenly bodies—these things I already know. But to relax the order of my life according to those things, to have no need of clocks, that is the attraction.

Imagine the oneness with the environment and with God, the peaceful rhythm of life month to month. Gardening, putting up firewood, preserving food, and all other activities would have a natural place.

What if all types of meetings were less frequent, but lasted longer so there was more time for enjoying the people at those meetings. Suppose they started at sunup, or at moon rise, and continued until business was accomplished.

Maybe someday!

Here's a link to First Ways.