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From grain to grind

Linda’s Lines
Linda Wegner

Though its 16 years since we left the prairies, spring still holds wonderful memories. No, not just because, hopefully, winter was over but because the time for working the land had come. I’m not a native-born Saskatchewanite. I grew up in British Columbia. Nor am I a farmer, but truth is I simply fell in love with the people and the culture of the small towns where we lived.

This week’s musings were prompted by my weekly task of baking bread. On that particular day my thoughts turned to the process involved in moving a truckload of wheat from being sown in a field to becoming part of our breakfast meal. It’s a long and arduous journey and no steps can be eliminated if a good crop is to be harvested at the end of the season. Even before that process begins rocks are cleared from fields and spraying for weeds has to be done.

Once that’s accomplished, can the farmer wipe his hands of responsibility and rest until it’s time to harvest? Certainly not! There’s more spraying to be done, fields to be inspected and great diligence paid to the condition of the crop. Finally, barring hail, frost, wind or disease, it’s time to reap the fruit of the farmer’s labours (and expenses). It’s harvest, only to be followed by the grinding of the grist mill.

In my musings I thought of the parallels between growing wheat and growing a Christian. God works in our lives, enhancing our capacity to bless others. He neither spares nor wastes any effort in blessing us and those around us.

James 5:7: “… See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.”

Lord, I’m here. Work in me and through me, fulfilling all Your purposes.