John's Conscience

By skinner_jennifer

Tue, 03 Dec 2024
  • 256 reads
18 comments
 

Rolling fields edged with brier where shepherd John observes his flock, he relishes in beauty of landscape's magnitude, desperately holding on to dreams of another spring and summer.

John's in his sixties now and finding it harder to work his huge open space, though he's grown with the land from a young lad, thoughts of parting with some acres for development...even though he's been offered a substantial amount of money, lay heavily on his conscience as to whether to sell.

All humans harbour money worries at some point in life, but to ignore the fragility of earth's natural resources, where clean air is beneficial to the environment is worth more than a pot of gold.

Being a nature lover, John thinks about the many winters bringing snow deep crisp and even, where creatures hibernate in peace, bees in summer entranced by the wild flowers that he'd sown on meadow land he'd created.

Creeping roots in fertile soil that banked the stream down in his brook, where his sheep were free to drink, their thin lips “baa!” for little spring lambs, and all are safe.

Some people search for fortunes, not caring what they destroy in the process, or consider what went before, just having eyes on profits they can make.

How lovely! Thinks John, it would be to remain satisfied living without greed, finding pleasure in exploration that clears mind of all unnecessary thoughts, to be happy with beauty one already has, not trying to change what already works, just because you have the money to do so.

Now astounded that he ever considered parting with land, deciding to make alternative arragements with the help of his elder son, his day dreaming paid off. He would tell the developers tomorrow that the acres would not be for sale.

 

Photo is my own.

Certificate PG
Other
Stories
Nature
Other Fiction

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

hurrah for John's conscience! If only everyone could be a bit more like him. Thank you for this piece Jenny

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Thank you for reading and your kind words insert. Glad you liked.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

 Sometimes there can be knotty problems, even when it isn't greed beckoning, but glad he could reach such a conclusion! There does seem to be a bit more thought about where and how development of green land for other uses is being considered. May it continue. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Appreciate you stopping by to read Rhiannon, and thank you for your comment.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Nice one Jenny!

Your first two paragraphs could be about me, apart from the 'offered a substantial amount of money' bit.

But fair play to that man John! The world needs more Johns.

laugh

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Turlough,

I agree the world does need more Johns. I wrote about him from my own experience of being asked if we wanted to sell our 1900s property, which they wanted to knock down for the development of a road leading to our back garden, where they would have built new flats and houses and put in garages. There was no way I would sell our old house that's survived two world wars and been a sanctuary for trees and birds that I've come to appreciate so much. Thankfully no other neighbours would sell either, their feelings were exactly the same as mine.

Many thanks for reading and sharing your own thoughts.

Jenny.

P. S. My new hip has given me a new lease of life. smiley It's great.

 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Glad you put in that PS, Jenny. I realised yesterday I hadn't asked you how things were progressing. Lovely to hear your relief and enjoyment. Rh

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Many thanks Rhiannon. 

It's great to be out of pain and able to get around so much easier.

Thank you for your concern.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Those words 'new lease of life' are music to my ears. I'm delighted for you Jenny.

I'm also delighted that you and your neighbours didn't give in to the developers. I remember when I first found out about the existence of land banks, where organisations like property developers and retail chains buy up land that they often have little intention of putting to any use but simply want to stop their rivals getting hold of it. Such unacceptable greed disgusts me.

 

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Turlough,

it's also music to my ears too, especially after the rotten year I've had, but it does make me appreciate being well even more.

Thank you for coming back with your kind words.

Jenny. smiley

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

He's made the right choice, some things cannot be bought and cannot be replaced or undone. John's choice is the unusual one, most would be seduced by large amounts of cash. He must be a strong man who can now sleep well at night. Lovely piece, Jenny.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

You are so right Jane. Once John's land would have been sold, all the beauty of the countryside would have been ruined by goodness knows what, and with no going back once destroyed.

I've seen so much of the countryside here in Wiltshire ruined, I thank goodness for places like Avebury and National Trust areas where they're not allowed to develop.

Many thanks for reading and glad you liked. Thank you.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Well done to you and your neighbours Jenny - this is happening everywhere and it's so sad!

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Thanks insert.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

So glad to hear you're feeling a lot better, Jenny. This was a delight to read. Hooray for John! As others have said, we need more like him.

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Thank you for reading airyfairy. It breaks my heart when I think of all the beauty we've lost since I've been living in Wiltshire, sadly I know it goes on all over the country. I was glad I could write about the subject in a short story.

I appreciate you letting me know you agreed with John.

Thank you again.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by marandina on

Loved the ending, Jenny.

A message for our time. Environment over greed.

If everyone followed this mantra, the world would be a much better place!

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Paul,

I like that idea of a mantra of Environment over greed, I'll have to use it when I meditate.

Where would we be without our countryside and National Trust. I'm glad there are still places of beauty to be had. I remember when I lived in town and for the time I lived there, I never saw one bird in our small garden. When we moved to the house we're in now, it was like paradise seeing such a huge sky and a lovely big garden with trees...may they live long.

Many thanks for your reading and your kind words.

Jenny.