Rev. Richard Smith
| Proverbs 27:23-27 – Ode To A Farmer Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in, the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family and to nourish your female servants. |
Evidently, October 12 was “National Farmers Day”. I saw that on FB after the day occurred. If there’s a particular group in our current economy whom we need to salute, it’s farmers.
My grandfather and grandmother were farmers in Weakley County, Tennessee. My brothers, my sister, and I spent a lot of time on Grandpa Grady’s and Grandma Grady’s farm. During these visits we would help with the chickens, the pigs, the cows, and work in the cotton field or in their large garden. We would also romp and play in the large fields stretching behind their house.
And, obviously, we weren’t always joyfully volunteering for some of these daily tasks. My grandfather would come through our bedroom early in the mornings and declare, “Off your tail (he was coarser) and on your feet; there’s work to be done”. This was said partially in jest, but also with the understanding that if we were staying with them, we had responsibilities. There were no slow days on that Greenfield, Tennessee farm.
Later on, as a teenager, I worked three different summers on a farm. The work was even harder than that in Greenfield, but it kept this teenager in shape as I readied for school sports activities ahead.
In the Bible there are manifold passages having to do with farming, with livestock, with sowing seed, etc. Start with Genesis 1 wherein you find God’s unveiling of the steps of creation; including vegetation, seed-bearing plants, fruit, livestock, etc. Or, take Proverbs 27:23-27 which explicates elements of wise farming. Then, there’s Jesus. As one raised in an agrarian society and a masterful teacher of spiritual metaphors, he shared parable after parable talking about farming things. The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-9) and The Parable of The Mustard Seed (Mark 4:30-34) are favorites for many of us. All of this highlights how important farming is to the well-being of our planet and our lives.
As you each know, there are so many challenges to the modern farmer: increasing weather issues; the ebb and flow of supply and demand; the ebb and flow of prices; the increasing costs of equipment upkeep; more farming families facing debts beyond their means.
I guess what I’m wanting to do in this reflection piece is remind each of us that we must do all we can to help our modern-day farmers. I don’t know all the answers; especially since the vast majority of us live in urban-suburban rather than primarily rural areas. But, I can repeat what the website “National Farmers’ Day” suggests:
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalFarmersDay
While thanking a farmer is one way to celebrate the day, consider these opportunities to learn more about farming:
Learn more about the farm to table process.
Discover more about all the foods you consume.
Attend small-town festivals; by which one supports the farmer and their communities.
Buy fruits and vegetables from a farmer’s market.
Visit farms which provide learning and fun activities; i.e., a pumpkin patch.
This list is certainly not exhaustive and does not pretend to offer the fullness of affirmation we need to provide our local farms and farmers. For me, at least, it is causing some deeper reflection on how Pat and I can more faithfully in our local community visit farms and purchase direct farm products.
