cktimes.ca Archives for The Pastoral Lens
The Pastoral Lens
Seedtime and Harvest
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
One of the nicest things about enduring the long, cold days of winter is the glory and beauty of the spring season that follows it. Don't get me wrong, now, I'm not trying to knock ol' man winter. I enjoy each of the four seasons for different reasons, but winter does seem to drag a little near its end. Spring acts as sort of a reminder that God hasn't forgotten about our love for the warmer weather. It acts as a nice transition between the extremes of temperatures we get in winter and summer. My wife's pet peeve is when the spring weather is too hot and we don't get those nice, warm days to break us in for the onslaught that awaits us. For those of you reading this from other climes, Southwestern Ontario (Canada) seems to be the humidity capitol of the world in July and August. Spring is the calm before the perspiration storm, so to speak!A very common sight in these parts during spring is the silhouette of a farmer on his tractor, cultivating the soil to prepare it for planting. Due to time constraints and wet spring weather, I know of many farmers and their helpers (which can be family) who work literally around the clock to get this necessary work done. I know of two brothers who farm together who take turns with the "night shift" in their operation. In the spring, one brother works at night, and in the fall, the other brother works at night. Regardless of the approach to it all, there's a job to do and a narrow window of time in which to do it.
Planting, it would seem, takes a lot of faith. According to Hebrews 11:1, faith is "the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." That would certainly describe planting. A whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears go into something that produces no immediate visible results. Even when the seedlings do start to break through the soil's surface, they are just tender shoots with no evidence of the fruit that is anticipated. Of course, there is also the constant concern that there will be enough "heat units" for sufficient yield. Then there is the issue of rain. Will there be enough? Will there be too much? Will it come at the right time? Will it come down too hard? Having served 2 churches with rural folk as part of the make-up, I know a thing or two about praying for rain, let me tell you! Just what keeps a farmer from going insane over it all, anyway?
I had a visit a few years ago with a farmer from my congregation. He was a seasoned vet who was working a farm that had been in his family for many years. I asked him what kept him going in spite of all the potential setbacks facing the farming life today? I'll never forget his answer. In a very matter-of-fact tone of voice, he quoted me Genesis 8:22: "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." Wow! God promised way back when the flood waters during Noah's time had receded that planting would result in harvest. Sure, there have been lean years, but through it all, God has kept His promise. Where there has been lack, He has provided abundance in other places, with the intention of having the resources shared. We still haven't caught on too well here in North America, but there's always the opportunity to learn.
I think for now I'll stick to my day job, but I'm sure grateful for all those farmers out there who go to work everyday on the principle of seedtime and harvest.
