Fearful Earful

3 December 2010 by Barb Julian.

One of my professional friends from the tortilla business called me today.  He is a farmer from Ohio who specializes in high quality, clean grain corn for food processors.  He told me that the wife of an uncle had passed away and that he had discovered serendipitously that their farm, which had been in his extended family for over 125 years, was to be auctioned November 23rd.  Over 30 years of working nights, farming during the day, waiting on Mother Nature, blessing the land, loving his work, driving tractor trailers across half the country to deliver, standing by honorable business dealings, and understanding the importance of family growing strong together in pursuit of common values, Denny has become a big fish in his pond.  The tie to family and the land is so strong in him, that absence from either is his definition of hell.

Denny went to that auction.  I believe that whatever it cost would have been paid.  That land was part of his family’s history.   Where family is involved, there is no room for should, ought, might, maybe, someday.  There is not room for fear and self doubt and recrimination.  There are no “re-do’s” nor guarantees.

Today is the moment…and we must be fully present and ready when called.

Denny bought that property in a bidding dyad—152 acres of land across from the far corner of his own—for almost $700,000.  He did it for the rightness of it.  He did it for the love of the land and in honor of his family.  He did it for its potential and what might be.

Friends, there is no fear when one is within God’s moment, at one with Him– knowing, simply bringing the best you can, contented, and wholly committed.  And, because of the bottomless love of one, the land and the family continue…forever.

Sort of reminds me of the expectant hope that we hold for Jesus’ incarnation.  What is that worth in your life?

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