Mr. Squirrel outside the Abbot’s office seems to be looking toward the rising sun with some trepidation, realizing that the days are growing shorter and winter will be here before he knows it.
It’s important to have a supply of food on hand for the colder months, of course, when finding anything worth devouring is virtually impossible. Squirrel already promised his mate and family that they will indeed have food for winter, but saying that and making it a reality are two different things.
On the other hand, the monastery chickens get their daily fare of layer pellets, even when there is snow on the ground, and Squirrel knows it is not all that difficult to forage from the leftovers of the hens. He does it now and will do it then. A point to keep in mind, so as not to fret too much about hoarding now, as common as that is among the “Sciuris” family (the technical term for squirrels) at this time of year.
So, the options linger: get busy and store up for winter or take life one day at a time and hope for the best, come November. Both choices have advantages and disadvantages. There is no perfect choice, but as they say, not to choose is in fact a choice.
What would you do if you were in Squirrel’s shoes?
