Rural Life Sunday 2023
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Prior to his purchase of a Ford tractor he would even plow a mule. The mule was loaned to him from his brother and I was suprised at his skill with handling both the animal and the plow — without any assistance mind you — and those idiosyncracies only an experienced muleskinner could convey.
He would say something like "gee" to go right. He said "haw" (sounded more like "saw" to me) to go left. He said "ho" and "whoa" to stop and did a lot of clucking and clicking to go forward. I never knew about this aspect of my daddy before then. I also noticed how well he would treat the animal. It was almost as though he and the mule had a certain rapport. He exhibited a certain finesse with the draft animal and made sure the mule was watered and well fed after the chore of plowing was completed. He also tended to the furrows after planting and it was amazing how he could navigate that mule over the field.
Today is Rural Life Sunday which happens on the third Sunday in May. Some places observe it on different days. This year it is on May 21 here. The United Methodist Church recognizes the day as a "special Sunday" and is one of the four holidays they observe annually.
The Methodist Church General Conference decided when the day should be celebrated.
I never observed it myself. However, my daddy actually lived it. Regardless of your orientation to that which is rustic and rural I hope you have a good day.
Happy Rural Life Sunday to you !