In old Labuništa, the field keeper was not just a person walking through the field. He was the guardian of someone else’s labor, of the crops, of the abundance, and of the hope that what was sown would also be harvested.

Therefore, when the village field keeper was chosen, those who had fields in the area were the most interested. But at one such occasion, something happened that was later retold for a long time among the older residents of Labuništa.

There is hardly anyone from the older generations in Labuništa who hasn’t heard of Ađžo Ilmija — a famous craftsman, a resourceful person, and someone about whom various anecdotes were told among the people.

When age no longer allowed him to work his craft as before, his friends, wanting to help him have some work and income, decided to propose him as the village field keeper — the person who would guard the fields and crops in the Labuništa fields.

For this purpose, a gathering of citizens was organized, attended by a large number of village residents.

When it came time to choose the field keeper, several candidates applied. Each had their supporters, but the most numerous and loudest were the supporters of Ađžo Ilmija.

Although he was not someone who dealt much with fields and farming, thanks to the support of his loyal friends, he was chosen by a large majority vote as the new village field keeper.

After the election was over, Ađžo Ilmija and his friends went to celebrate.

Everyone was cheerful and satisfied that their man was chosen. Ađžo Ilmija stood up, thanked them for the great support, and said:

— I truly thank you from my heart. Without you, I would never have been chosen as the field keeper. But, something puzzles me…

His friends looked at him curiously, and he continued:

— How is it that only you voted for me, none of whom has even a small piece of field, and from those who have fields – almost no one voted for me?

He then fell silent for a moment, looked at them, and added:

— What will I guard for you, if you don’t have even a small piece of field?

His friends looked at each other and remained without an answer.

And Ađžo Ilmija, perhaps without intending to express some great wisdom, with one simple question revealed the essence of the entire election.

It is easy to choose and decide when someone else bears the consequences of the choice.

Those who loudly supported Ađžo Ilmija did not have fields that needed guarding. For them, the choice was above all support for a friend. But those who had fields, crops, and invested labor viewed the choice differently — because they had something to lose.

And right here this old Labuništa saying transcends the field and the farming.

Even today, it is easy to decide for others: for someone else's property, someone else's money, someone else's job, someone else's institution, someone else's future. It is easy to propose someone, support someone's choice, or give advice when a possible wrong decision will not fall on our shoulders.

But when something is ours, when we have invested effort, time, and hope in it — then we choose very carefully to whom we entrust it.

Therefore, true responsibility begins when we care for the common cause with the same conscience with which we would take care of our own.

Not every loud support is proof of a correct choice, nor is every majority a guarantee that the most suitable person was chosen. The value of a choice is also seen in who makes the decision and who bears its consequences.

And perhaps that is why, from this old Labuništa story, one wisdom remained that even today sounds so relevant:

"It is easiest to appoint a guard to someone else's field."

✍️ Jakub Kazimoski

From the cycle "Wisdoms of the old residents of Labuništa"