A Time to Enrich and a Time to Rejoice

The spring and fall were particularly well scented times growing up in farm country. The flowers in the spring, the fresh harvest in November, and the poo, well, came before all those other sweet smells.

After legislation was passed through congress in the mid 90’s, farmers in Pennsylvania were not allowed to spread their cattle’s manure whenever they wanted - they could spread 2-3 times a year in order to lessen the odors that the public was decrying.

For anyone who has lived on a farm, or someone who has let food spoil more than a week in a container, you know what aroma builds after a time.

The difference was clearly evident after the first farmer shared the love that year and folks realized what their choices had created. Let’s just say you knew when the farmer was in the field.

Fertilizing the field before planting is a natural step in the progression towards harvest. Without that fertilization, the ground would begin to lose the nutrients captured by the plants.

None of us enjoy facing the crap that happens in our life. However, reflecting on this childhood memory today reminded me that the crap we receive is the foundation for the crop we yield.

As the Scriptures say, the seed must die before the plant can grow. It is the reality of dying that makes living so precious.

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