Answers come from an abundance of Faith and a few inches of
rain…….
For starters, I was given this
topic to write in order to diversify the postings on this blog, so hold on – it
might be a trip for some! The question
is, “what makes things grow?” Many
agriculturalist would provide the common answers, essential nutrients and DNA,
yada yada yada. Let me take another
approach. At some point, everyone in the agricultural industry has resorted to
hoping or praying for rain. This is for me is one of the most humbling
experiences encountered in life! The reason being is that it is completely out
of my hands! I cannot arrange clouds over pastures and hay fields on a regular
basis, so I am truly at His mercy! He provides rain on His schedule not mine!
This one thing really makes our industry different than any other in the
world!! We cannot feed the nations without His help! In a way, even as I write
this, I’m amazed by the fact He has complete control!! Its almost inconceivable
for me, that anyone it the ag industry could deny His involvement! So for me
the question is “Who makes things grow?” not the contrary.
So this
question of how my faith is involved in my production system has been asked on
a few occasions. The only analogy that is even close is this: my faith in Him
is unequivocally more important than the very soil which all other life depends
on! For example, The very day I purchased my farm the rain stopped, grass died
and ponds dried up for four months. In turn, cows began to suffer and I trucked
water until midnight each night almost to no avail. The fertilizer I had
invested in (which wasn’t cheap!!) essentially gave no benefit to the crops and
hay disappeared before our eyes! At that point, your check book is taxed,
exhaustion sits in and worrying becomes a constant. So whats left? Faith!
That’s all for me!! I relied on the only true and predictable constant in my
life. I had the fortune of being taught
about Him and His will and the fact that all is worked for His glory – not my
prosperity! There is something extremely comforting about that and it makes
praying for Rain a pleasurable experience not a daunting task! As I look back
on that period of time, I often find myself forgetting that He did provide, and
He will again during the next drought!
Its
continually said that we as producers have the hardest job on earth – whether
that be true or not, I know one thing. I could not do it on my own. I would
succumb to the daily curveballs thrown at us by nature as well as carry
unneeded life shortening stress around. I would submit to you that we have a
hard job, especially away from Him- but with that said, we also have the
indescribable opportunity to witness His creation and participate on a first
hand basis! If you think about it, we as
producers are involved in so many miraculous occasions from the birth of calf to
a summer rainstorm, and for those I can only thank Him! So for those
non-ag-affiliated reading this I make one suggestion. Don’t thank a farmer or
rancher only, thank the Lord for allowing some of us to farm and ranch!
God Bless
