daily life as life goes on . . .

10:00 am, September 4, 2012.

Time to harvest.  144 acres of seeded wheat crop.  Waiting to be combined.  And then sent to parts of the world in relief of hunger and famine.

I headed 5 miles west and 2.5 miles north to be there.  As I approached the field I could see the rain gathering.  I had seen a rainbow on the way – not a good sign, in this case.

A small smattering of raindrops hit my windshield as I stepped from the car.  Soon my jacket was also spotted with water.  The radar had shown the possible clouds coming slowly.  Apparently the upper winds pushed them along faster than expected.

A quick swath of an acre or so was about all that got done.  The rain continued to fall and an early lunch was arranged.   The hope was to eat and then return to the fields if the rain was just a touch and not a complete downpour.  Then, start the engines and harvest the crop!

Didn’t happen.  Not yesterday.  Probably not today. 

“It will happen” – as the harvesters optimistically told me.  As the saying goes – God’s timetable  is not always our timetable.

A wind blew through.

One farmer had 50% damage to his crops.  Others had whole rows of swaths roll up into bundles – some as high as a meter or more.

The season for harvest is often accompanies with adverse conditions.  The easiest to deal with is the overnight rain.  Just a sprinkle that dries with a slight breeze in the morning.

But then there is the massive thunderstorms that are often accompanied with hail.  The rain itself can break a stalk of wheat and leave the harvesting of the head nearly impossible.  But when hail chops the stand of ripe crop, a whole year of hope is lost in a moment.

Our recent wind shows just how strong something we cannot see can affect what we do see.  Measuring up to 105 km/hr, this plough wind takes everything in its path.

I wonder if our lives, the points where the greatest good is happening, are not like these days of harvest.  Expect the unexpected, trust in God for your assurance and insurance, and get out the combines!!

I get to do a lot of things as a pastor that are not pleasant.  Death and discord, decisions and drama.  All come with the pastorate.

At the same time, I have the great opportunity to living with people who celebrate life and death together.  I have seen this in action with the recent death of my wife.  What joy in knowing others support me and listen to me and laugh with me and live life with me.

And yesterday, I celebrated with those who have new life in their lives.  I dedicated the children of two couples – Ryan and Sharon Lee (Isaiah Timothy is their son), and Curtis and Rachel Kornelson (Sierra Lynn is their daughter).  As I listened to the earnestness of each couple in committing to bringing up their children to follow God, I also sensed that each of these children are destined for greatness in God’s kingdom – Isaiah as a peacemaker and Sierra as a visionary.  Let’s see where they go!

Check out the job that I was about this afternoon!

The idea was to take a few minutes in put in a new kitchen faucet tap.  I was also going to insert some taps under the sink that would allow me to shut off the water while I worked on the sink.

As I went about the work, I remembered why I had declined to take on this task seven years ago.  I found this was going to be more work than it might be worth!  

I had to take out the sink (not a usual thing in replacing taps).  Which created a small flood.  And then I had to find a way to saw off some of the pipe.  And then put the sink back in – sturdy enough to not move.  And then attach the kitchen faucet tap tightly enough to not move.  All this while recognizing that the work space was mere centimeters, not inches or even feet.  And of course, this is all being done upside down looking into the sky (or the bottom of the sink!).

Five hours later the task is done.  If I can be proud – here I am!!  Of course, I’ll check for leaks again tomorrow.

The saga may not yet be over!!