Beast of Burden
By: Kyle Richardville
Many years ago, I was lucky to be part of a bible study in college which investigated the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. The lesser-known book of Ecclesiastes is part of the wisdom literature in the Old Testament, along with the book of Job, Proverbs and many Psalms. It is a wonderfully deep and powerful text written by King Solomon, one of the richest and most powerful people who ever lived, exploring what makes for a joyful and purpose-filled life. And what did he have to say about joy and purpose after reaching the mountaintop of human achievement? “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 1:14)
This verse, along with the rest of Ecclesiastes, catalyzed me to start writing a family-friendly book for young adults exploring these topics in a more modern context. The fictional story, Beast of Burden, was the result. The main takeaway of Beast of Burden is the same one that old King Solomon concluded in Ecclesiastes all those millennia ago: despite what the world constantly tells us, living life to accrue more stuff, more fame or more power is meaningless unless they are nested inside a higher, nobler purpose.
This ancient lesson applies to everyone, but it rings especially true for those working in agriculture. Farming and ranching are physically, mentally, emotionally and financially demanding, so it can be very easy to become focused on yourself and get caught up in the here and now, especially during the most difficult years. However, work also needs to be in service of a higher good, or else it too transforms into a meaningless chasing after the wind. Solomon touches on this lesson in chapter 4 with a cautionary tale: “There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business!” (Ecclesiastes 4:8)
Weather will always go against us when we least want it to. World events will always disrupt global supply chains. Commodity markets and interest rates will always fluctuate up and down like a roller coaster. So much is out of our control, but the key is to make sure work, wealth, security and other earthly matters never get placed on the throne of our hearts. They’re simply not designed to take on that role. We’re doomed to a life of anxiety, disappointment and strife if we rely on earthly matters to fulfill our lives. In essence, this is the message that the world Beast of Burden takes to the extreme. Teenager and protagonist Archer Coleman navigates the internal battle he feels while striving for stuff like the world tells him he needs to. Trips to a heavenly realm only add more doubt to the materialistic message being pushed. Below is an excerpt from one of Archer’s trips to this heavenly realm:
“Archer looked into the crowd and locked on to a portly gentleman in his mid-forties, wearing a black suit. At first, he looked unassuming and mild-mannered enough. However, the longer he looked at him, something strange happened. A contraption made of old wood appeared around the man’s neck. “Woah. What is that?” Archer asked.
“That, Archer, is a yoke, similar to ones that farmers of old placed around their team of beasts.”
Archer listened intently.
“Everyone has a yoke, Archer. No one is exempt. The Earthly and the Transcendent realms are connected in this manner. The outward showing of the Transcendent realm merely reflects the internal of the human in the Earthly. In other words, that which dominates their Earthly life also rules their inner being. People choose, actively or passively, what rules their Transcendent, most real self.
“Now, look deeper at the man,” Franklin said.
Archer did so, and the yoke the man was wearing appeared to get heavier and more burdensome. The man looked as if his legs were going to give out from the weight on his shoulders. Suddenly, Archer saw a dollar sign appear above the man’s head. The man’s countenance began to fall with each second. The dollar sign appeared to be taking energy from the man as he looked more and more unhealthy.”
Rather, higher matters like love, selflessness, gratitude and God (if you are of spiritual ilk) belong on the throne of our hearts. This leads to steadfast peace of mind through all of life’s ups and downs. This might just be what the world needs the most. As Phil Robertson, the late patriarch of Duck Dynasty fame, often said, “Peace of mind is the rarest commodity on planet Earth.”
As we turn the page on 2025 and look forward to 2026, it might be a good idea for all of us to take a few moments to honestly ask ourselves: “Am I content with my wealth and my possessions?”, “Do I have enjoyment in life?” and “For whom am I toiling?” And then, the hard part. Answer honestly and listen to that answer, no matter what.
Many farmers and ranchers find a renewed sense of enjoyment and peace in their toils when moving toward regenerative agriculture (or whatever you want to label it). “I’m having fun farming again” and “I wish I would have discovered this 20 years ago” are common phrases I’ve heard over the years that point to such an internal transformation. This points to the fact that regenerative agriculture is so much more than the practices that are associated with it, such as no-till, reduced chemical usage, rotation grazing, on and on. It is an internal change that has been made to a farmer or rancher’s operating system, their belief system and the paradigms they hold, which lead to an external change in farming practices. Done correctly, the producer then sees life flourishing on the landscape, thus deepening their joy, purpose and peace of mind.
This pervasive sense of joy, purpose and peace among farmers and ranchers is arguably the most important benefit that regenerative agriculture can bring to the world but is the least discussed. I think King Solomon would agree: “So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 8:15)
If you found this blog enjoyable and would like to find more information on my book Beast of Burden, click the hyperlink here. Thank you in advance for your support and I hope you and your family find joy, purpose and peace in 2026.