Most Texans are well aware right now of the heat. Most Texans, however, choose to escape that heat with air conditioned homes, cold cars, and shopping malls. Here at the farm we work from 9-12:30 then half work after lunch into the evening and the other half seek shelter in the fanned buildings (notice I did not say air-conditioned buildings). Being here, working outside, and not having the luxury of moving in and out of air conditioning my body has become acclimated.
A while ago my friend suggested that I read a book called Better Off, by Eric Brende. It is a recent book about a man and his wife’s journey into the land of the pseudo-amish to try life without modern technology for one year (This man had been studying at MIT previously). I personally loved the book and getting into the thoughts of an educated, modern man leaving modern-day amenities. It also stirred longings for experiencing different adventures with someone else (and so I continued reading about people going on adventures with their significant others-walking across America, traveling the world on nothing, ect) but that is another beast to tackle.
In this book, Eric related a story about working in beginning summer heat. He and his wife repositioned their bed for maximum air flow from the window, sat outside in the evening for the breeze, welcomed sweat as internal conditioners. One two-week period of time they took a driving trip back to civilization to find their next home. When they returned, Eric told how the heat was unbearable to him. He was working with the other men and experienced sever heat sickness, but the other men were hardly affected. In researching why he became so sick, he found information about the body’s ability to acclimate. We know from science that the seasons and temperatures that our immediate environments go through change gradually for the most part. The other men in the area had been working outside in the summer while the heat increased, while Eric was driving around staying in hotels. When he returned, their bodies had adjusted but his had not.
I think about this practically now. The temperatures are ranging from 100 to 106 depending on the day, and time of day. We are sweating inside and outside of buildings. I know it is hot, believe me-it gets me, but my body has had a chance to acclimate over the past two months because I am for the most part without air conditioning (except 7 hours at nighttime from the window unit). However, I can sit in a room that is 95 degrees with minimal air flow and hardly notice it. Even the sweat on my own body is largely unnoticed. It is normal.
Last night, a storm blew in. It sprinkled twice last night, and cloud cover lasted the entire day, and the sky finally dropped a river onto the ground after lunch. I may be used to the heat and sun, but the breeze, rain, and shade have never been so welcomed and a source of relief. The rain must stop though; otherwise, the plants would drown and stop their photosynthesizing.
Metaphorical Analogy: Seasons and times. Dry, hot, scorching, shadow, sunny, cloud, drizzle, humidity, cool breeze, frigid air, sunny, dry, wet, numb cold, warm sun, cool air, hot, dry, humid, scorching, shadow…..each is not an evil in itself. At least not when compared to the everchanging cycle of seasons and times. Instead of thinking of the metaphorical “season” of life as a large chunk of spring-summer-autumn-winter, I am beginning to notice the smaller seasonal moments. How in each season there is hot and cool, dry and wet….each has some difficulty and benefit. The sun makes the plants grow but dries out the ground. The rain feeds the plants but shields their leaves from the sun. The sun and rain exist in every season really.
It’s all about perspective.
“Besides being complicated, reality, in my experience, is usually odd. It is not neat, not obvious, not what you expect…Reality, in fact, is usually something you could not have guessed.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Now I must run off to doctor my spotty poison ivy.
Cheers and itches,
Melyssa
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