Today I said goodbye to
the lovely corn that has surrounded our house for the summer. When Ed and I
moved into the parsonage on Friendship Rd., the corn was a little more than
waist high. It was dark green, and full of life. I embraced our new home and
took the corn as a sign of hope that God had placed Ed and me just where we
need to be.
During the summer, the
corn grew, and I felt safe and secure. I was surrounded by the family of God at
Friendship UMC and the corn. It was like a big-acre cocoon that held us close
as we settled in. The corn matured, tasseling, making ears, and turning to the
bright yellow grain that when harvested is made into corn bread, corn chips,
and corn oil, ethanol, cow food, people food, dog food and so many other
life-giving products.
I now look forward to
the next crop the farmers will plant in the field, wheat, soybeans; something
green, something growing.
In Ecclesiastes 3:2, the
author (whom tradition identifies as Solomon, son of David and Bathsheba),
couples the images of birth and death with seed-time and harvest. I am reminded
by the cutting of the corn that we all will one day be called to our forever
home with God. It will be a joyous day for the believer who goes, and a
mournful day for those left behind to grieve.
Even as I watch the corn be cut and carried away in the big semi-trucks, which is a little sad, I am encouraged when I think of the divine cycle of living, dying and living again. Jesus said,
“unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, then it only remains one
seed. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit” (John 12:24). Jesus was
talking about himself. He was giving a sign that in his death, there is life.
He was also incarnating the standard for how his followers should live and die
as well; becoming the seed bearers, seed planters, and fruit producers for the
world.
I wonder, when will I
really understand the full force of Jesus' words? Moreover, when will I
completely understand their meaning; that we have been given life so that we
can till the soil and plant seeds so that when we die, others will grow. Dying
is victory to those in Christ Jesus, and so is living. Being called to live here in N. Iredell, I'm coming to see that we all have farming
to do!
Lord, give me strength
to produce, plant, nurture, and grow all the seeds you give me… ‘til Kingdom
come. Amen!
Thanks to Dale Bess, who
planted, grew and harvested the corn by our house!!
©2014 Judy H. Eurey
