Every so often, I get the privilege of being inspired by things much greater than I can ever be.

Today it was nice to be able to help a local rancher and his wife, deliver a large calf. The mother cow fully dilated yet unable to produce naturally what should happen.

With the cow safely confined between two wooded fences and a metal gate pushing firmly into her side, the rancher spent over a half an hour trying to get a small chain wrapped around the legs of the calf entombed inside.

Shit poured out as his hand reached inside, up almost to his shoulder. Water and shit covered him and yet he continued without pause.

It was hard to get the chain looped over the legs but finally, he got both front legs wrapped, plus the calf’s head positions so the nose would pop out as everything proceeded.

With the chain attached to a ratchet puller, the calf finally made its appearance in a quick, ‘plop’. I held the chain up off the ground so the calf’s head would not bounce off the ground.

Then, as soon as the calf was out, it was dragged a few feet and positioned on the ground with the nose pointing downhill. It struggled to breath, even as the rancher quickly cleared the nostrils and mouth from all the slime.

The first few gasps sounded as if there was some fluid inside the lungs but soon, it cleared.

The mother was released from her confines and she immediately started to mother the calf, licking the wet body laying on the wet mud covered ground.

Another calf. Another participant in the game called, life.

Amazing how easy it is to kill life but so very hard to be a participant of the creation of life, or to remain alive.

To God, i give utmost thanks. Not just for my life but for giving us Life.