December 2016
Dear Finley and Henry,
I killed my first deer this year. Shot it with a crossbow through the lungs. It bled out and died quickly.
You two were busy playing inside. When I brought the carcass back, I asked you if you wanted to see it. You both did, but not too close. Neither of you freaked out. No revulsion. No blood lust either. You were interested and inquisitive and thoughtful, which made me happy.
If you're going to eat meat, you need to come to terms with dead animals; that’s what meat is. If you're going to eat vegetables, you should also come to terms with dead animals; slugs, bugs, beetles and all manner of critters are killed by farmers to grow your food. If you plan to walk this earth, to breathe the air, to do things, to buy things, to use things, you have to appreciate that the actions you take come at a cost.
The simple fact is that our existence impacts the world around us. You can, and I hope you will, take steps to limit your footprint. Hunt wild game. Avoid factory farming. Ride public transit. But you can also address the other side of the ledger. Be a good person. Do good things. Create something. Make your life matter.
Like a juvenile delinquent vandalising a tree, you are carving your mark into the surface of this planet. The earth will bear your scars. Cut shallow and make it beautiful, so future generations will look at what you’ve left behind and see that, whatever harm you have done, the world is better for having had you in it.
We'll be eating that deer all year. And every time I take a bite, I'll be reminded that life isn't free; that we should give back at least as much as we take; and that we have the potential to give back much more than that. You will find no bigger believer than me that the world is indeed a better place with you in it. Prove me right every day.
Love,
Dear Old Dad