Northern Farmer

It is well. Almost over the hump, as of today we got about two thirds of the cows on pasture. What little there is of it. But they’re only put in small areas in their pastures with the majority saved for growing much more. So tomorrow morning there should be allot less cow feeding. Although if I know cows, the remainder will try to eat as much as the whole herd did when they were home. And with less than a dozen bales left for the cowherd they ain’t gonna be getting over fed the next few days. But the forecast is for warmer temps this week, (finally), and there’s good moister so the grass should burst, that’s the gamble I’m taking. Todays cattle moving really has me bushed out! To much excitement for an old man that tries to act like a teenager!
So this evening I sit here for a few minutes with a hot cup of coffee, not worried about it keeping me from sleep, I’m trying to avoid falling over now! A day well done, a week well done. No field work even started yet in these parts but I figure by Monday we will start that. And I can’t wait! That’s when I get me rest! Yup, sit on my butt all day and dream while tilling the fields. Its with tractors, but if it were with a team it would be the same, just not as noisy. But field work is a time when a farmer can dream, can dwell on things for hours and hours. You think about things you love, you see wildlife in and around the fields. You think about family, friends and God. A person isn’t interrupted very much unless the equipment pounds on a rock or something. The smell of the fresh healthy soil is something that is impossible to describe. All of winter’s disasters and toils gradually get put in a back file in a person’s head to be used for future reference, and only then. The multiple years of disaster and many trails are hopefully behind a person now. But would I trade these past few years for having a secure career like the regular folks say they have. The answer is no! Because there is nothing quite like this life!
As I’m typing I’m listening to the soundtrack from the movie, Amazing Grace and let me tell you it is just something else! Right now I’m listening to Holy, Holy, Holy! And it really has me reflecting on the times these last few years. And the last few weeks as the affects of the drought were really taking their toll on us. I couldn’t even hardly see a few weeks ahead, blinded by the heavy hand of disaster. And folks, even though I wrote fairly steadily, make no mistake, things were rough here, very rough. But the Lord is seeing us through. We might come out of this very shaken, but still kicking.
Things will be crushed here for a few weeks as far as work goes, behind in everything because of the spring that wouldn’t sprung. But I’m so very happy that there’s a God who cares, and cares very much. He cared about getting His Word into our household, getting His Word into our hearts. Showing us that living like the masses wasn’t for us. Thus, even under severe trial we survived it and have very few long lasting effects to show for it. We came out leaner and smarter. And in it all He has provided more and more beef customers for us. Every time I get tempted to advertise I try and put the thought out of my head and when I do the phone calls just come in! This week a Baptist church from thirty miles away found us and placed a big order and it sounds like they are excited about buying off the farm, especially when the farmer can keep right up with them when it comes to scripture! God is good! He provides even when it seems the darkest! I just got to learn to totally depend on Him.
As we come out of the past year, more like crawling out of a hole, all dirty and beat up, we see the light and the hope! This is not a life of following big ag or some corporate agenda, nope. The survivors will be those who trust God with everything they got! There’s no middle ground. I feel like David writing a psalm, with my enemies all around me. The enemies are the world and the system that wants to destroy family and farm, but I know there is a God in control. A God that hears the cry of His children! I know this without a doubt! What an awesome Lord!
With a God that is in control there is nothing for his children to fear! Again as I’m listening to the incredibly good songs on the Amazing Grace soundtrack I am just getting lifted as I write. How these men changed the world! And they were just regular folks that took the Word of God, believed it, and acted accordingly! This is what we must do in these dark times. God is in control and when we realize that there’s nothing that can stop a person, nothing! As the world and big ag go to every extreme to destroy food production and family farms there are folks that know the truth and will not bow down to evil. And evil it is, there’s no use trying to beat around the bush. There is nothing Christian in any of it. But a few people have seen what is really important and are willing to stand against the Goliath of the world and corporate greed. A person might feel alone, might feel that there is no way he or she could ever change anything, but when ever anyone set out in human history to change things because of the Word of God, things always changed! It might seem impossible, but rest assured its not. God never leaves a person alone, never! This very thought, this very promise is more than enough to spur me on to shout it out! And to keep doing what we’re doing with total faith in our creator who watches over us and loves us.
I’m really tired, shot you could say. But I feel so strongly on this that I had to write, even if very few ever read it, it makes no difference. Great is His faithfulness!

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 3rd, 2008 at 8:00 pm and is filed under Northern Farmer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.