I heard this story about 30 years ago. I do not know who originated it. If I knew, I sure would like to give him the credit. This is one of those stories that is trying to convey a message. I am adding to it, for today's application. I think I know what the original author was trying to convey. I am just going to tell the story and then you send me your emails or post on facebook your thoughts.
A long time ago a farmer lived on a small farm next to a large forest. Through the forest, about a mile, there was a lake. This farmer lived off the land. The land and the lake provided plenty of fish and wild game for him to eat. He had fruit trees and a vegetable garden to supply him with fruits and vegetables. Also, there were many pecan trees in the forest to keep him supplied in pecans all winter. He also worked for some of the other farmers to provide him income to live.
One day the farmer was walking to the lake to go fishing. On his way he noticed the ground around a large oak tree rooted up. As he walked past a corn field, he noticed some of the corn knocked down and several tracks around the edge of the field. They looked like hog tracts. He knew no one had raised hogs in that community for several years. This must be wild hogs. He followed the tracks but he could never see the hogs. He found their watering hole were they had been wallowing in the mud, but no hogs. He could remember when he used to eat barbecue pork at the old diner in town and how good it tasted. The diner was long since gone. So, he tries to think of a way to catch the hogs.
The next day he came back to the same spot with some apples and scatters them on the ground. When he returns the next day with corn, he does the same thing, Each time he drops the food closer to home. His idea was to get them depending on the food he brought them and eventually follow him to his barn lot where he could lure them in the pen and close the gate. Then he could eat pork any time he wanted it. He could grow corn to feed them, so all he had to do was to lure them in by providing food every day. Also, each day, little by little, their fear of him would go away.
He did this routine for several days, and the only sign of the hogs was their tracks around where he had placed the food. One day he was late putting the food out, and he saw the hogs at a distance. They were waiting for the food, but still would not come close, until he had left. He continued this for several days, but he left a trail of food so they would get closer to the pen each day. Finally, the pen was in sight. He then piled some corn around the open gate. He could see in a distance the hogs slowly and cautiously walking toward the gate. If he came out to get a look, they would run away.
Finally, a day came when he was feeding them inside the pen. He would go and try to shut the gate, but they would take off running. So he just decided, everyday he would put the feed out at the other end of the pen and leave the gate open. He was hoping eventually they would get use to him and not run off. Everyday they would come in to eat, and he would step out and let them see him. They ran at first, now they just stood there eating watching, and they would go back out the pen into the forest each day. He kept fresh water for them and fixed some straw bedding in the barn for them.
Then it happened. He went out to feed them one morning to find they had never left from the night before. As he fed them that morning, he walked among them,as they pushed up against him begging for the food. After feeding, they would lay down in the barn, and go to sleep, never once attempting to go out of the pen. So the old farmer went and locked the gate. By this time, all that feeding had put some weight on them. They were looking pretty good. The next day, he had one on the barbecue pit cooking away.
A few years past, the sows had pigs, the farmer ate some, and sold some. Only one of the original herd was remaining, along with 10 others that had been born and raised under the farmer's care. One day the farmer died. He had no family, only friends. After his funeral, no one wanted the hogs. They decided to let them go back into the forest to take care of themselves. One man went and unlocked the gate, swung it open, and fed them the small amount of feed remaining. The man then went back to town.
The wind was blowing that day, and it blew the gate shut, but not locking it. The hogs could still get out, they would only have to push the gate open. After eating, the hogs went to sleep in the barn. The next day, they were expecting to be fed, but no one came. Finally, the old hog of the original herd remembered that he came from forest into the pen through that gate, and it had been locked all these years. He was so hungry. He remembered the roots, acorns and other food he used to hunt for everyday. He also remembered his freedom he had lost by depending on the farmer.
By now, all of the hogs were squealing wanting something to eat and drink. Finally the old hog ran to the gate, pushed on it, and got out. The other hogs were left behind squealing. They never had been taught to find food nor had they ever experienced freedom. Once the old hog was deep in the forest, it all came back to him. He was free and independent again.
The hogs left behind ,starved to death. They were afraid to go past the gate and stayed close to the trough were the farmer used to feed them, hoping each day someone would put the food in.
What is the point of this story? Be careful in what you choose in exchange for your freedom. Learn how to provide for yourself. When you do need help, try to get back providing for yourself, if at all possible. Getting something for nothing always comes with a price to someone. Never forget the feel of freedom in your heart. Courage can always help break the barriers to the right solutions. Do not fail to teach this to your children.
If you do nothing for your daily bread and teach your children the same, one day you may both starve. Remember why the other hogs starved? They didn't know what was on the other side of the gate. They had never been taught, and they were afraid to leave with the older hog. They remained with the only food source they knew, never knowing many different food sources were beyond the gate.
We never need to be totally dependent on one source. That source may be removed or die like the farmer. We need to be able to think outside the box when our freedom is challenged and have the courage to find solutions when it is jeopardized. Sometimes our health or other circumstances force us to depend on someone else, and there is nothing wrong with this. Remember the hogs were healthy, free, and had the knowledge to provide for themselves. They chose to abandon that way of life and let someone else do it for them. The danger was when pigs came along and thought this was the natural way to live and believed the farmer owed them the food, shelter and water each day. HE DIED! Then they had a big mess!
God is the only one we can depend on, not ever leaving us. We depend on Him because He says in Hebrews 13:5 "I will never leave or forsake you."
I am looking forward to hearing your comments on this one. I know it is a little different than the others, but I think it raises a good point. Send comments to rhepler52@gmail.com . I am trying to increase the number of people reading this blog. Could you please help me by passing on to friends and family?
Thank you so much and have a good day!
Rick Hepler
