We’ve all been doing a little hunting here lately around the house. In the afternoon, after the cows are fed and the work is done, we try to sneak away to the stand for an hour or so, looking for the ever-elusive white tail.
We are probably what some would call “a hunting family.” We all hunt; some more than others. Our kids even enjoy taking their friends and sharing the experience with others.
We have hunted in warm weather, cold weather , rain and sun. (In south Mississippi, we call that last week!) Always hunting with the hope of seeing “the big one.” I personally, am not the cold and rainy type of hunter, but I do enjoy spending time in the stand!
The sun is quickly setting, Most of the work is done. The day is finally ending, And the night is almost come.
The cattle enjoy the last few rays, The grass is green and good. They've barely seen the sun in days, It has rained more than it should.
The farmer filled the rings with hay, The feed has all been eaten. He has worked so hard today, But his list is almost beaten.
Tomorrow will start with its own new list, New days bring their own circumstances. Taking the day with each new twist, Living like there are no second chances.
Getting all in, getting both feet wet; Not just in farm and work, but with God. Each day is on your mark, get set; Remember the way is narrow, not broad.
A farmer always has work at hand, But you and I, as Christians, do as well. Each of us have to follow the command, Our job is to go to all and tell.
We had the opportunity to spend a long weekend with our friends in Nebraska recently. It’s always refreshing to have time away, for your mind to have moments to rest and your soul to be replenished by friends who welcome you like family. One afternoon, husband and I had a few minutes to drive around and just enjoy the area. Now, by drive around, I mean ride in sporty side-by-side that went really fast and no, I wasn’t driving! Do you know what I saw ? Corn, some cattle, corn, soybeans, and more corn. Corn was everywhere! Fields as far as the eye can see; all of them in various stages of harvest. (Fun Fact: The Cornhusker State is the 3rd largest corn-producing state in the US.) In some of the fields, the corn was still a little green and not quite ready to be picked. A good bit of the corn was dry enough, but the ground was extremely saturated from recent rains and that was preventing the farmers from bringing the heavy equipment in to pick the corn. In a few areas though, they have been able to get the machinery in the fields and they have been able to harvest a bit. (Another Fun Fact: Nebraska produces 1/4 of the nation’s popcorn! )
Funny thing is, when I think of corn fields, I don’t necessarily think of fields full of very dry corn stalks. I think of tall, green stalks waving in the wind and when the tassel is dry at the tip of the ear, the corn is ready to pick and eat. That usually means work for us to shuck the corn and prep it to be put in the freezer! Just think of all that delicious, buttered corn on the cob and creamed corn and fried corn, and….! (You can taste it now, can’t you?) But the thoughts of plump, juicy ears of corn were not matching the visuals in front of me. All I could see was what looked like dead and dry, wasted fields of corn. Now don’t get me wrong, I totally understand that not all corn is grown for human consumption. But I guess I just never really thought about the process. Why was the corn left here to dry out? It just seemed to me like corn should be picked at its peak and when it was “ready” instead of left in the field to dry out. But there is the point, isn’t it? That’s what I thought should happen. That’s what I thought the process should be.
I was looking at those fields and what I was seeing was wasted potential when really it hadn’t even begun to meet its full potential! I didn’t know the process. I didn’t know the plan. See that corn will be picked once it is DRY and sold for all kinds of intents and purposes. It will be sold and processed for animal feeds, ethanol fuel and possible even flours and corn syrup, not to mention, popcorn! This corn will only be considered wasted if it isn’t harvested and it is left in the field. Wow! what an eye opener! How many times have I looked at someone and thought about the wasted life? (Ok, don’t get all holier-than-thou on me! You’ve thought it too.) How many times have I failed to harvest what was in right in front of me and possibly prevented that life from reaching its full potential just because it didn’t appear the way I thought it would? How many times have I missed the opportunity because I was looking with my vision and not His eyes? Proverbs 19:21-22 says, ” Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. What is desired in a man is steadfast love..” I am convicted today that I have failed to harvest a single ear of corn, maybe even failed to pick an entire field. I am convinced that many times the field, or even the single ear of corn, has been right in front of me and instead of seeing a harvest, I have seen a waste because it wasn’t the picture of harvest that I had in my mind. “Jesus said, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, there are yet four months, then comes the harvest? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes and see that the fields are white for harvest.’ John 14:34-35.” May we all, today, see past the dryness. May we look past the dry stalks and look inside with His eyes and see the kernels, the seeds of life, waiting to be harvested and do our part to help them meet their full potential in Christ. And if today, you recognize that you are that dry corn and you need to be harvested, the combine is ready for picking! Jesus is waiting for us to be at the point of our need, where we are ripe for the harvest. Call on Him today and He will answer and pluck you from the dry field and set you on the path to production and reaching your full potential.
The Sinner’s Prayer (by Dr. Ray Pritchard)
Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen.
