Farm Report #2 – Learning Patience

The Back Pasture and Barn

Last October we bought a farm.  I shared why in a post in November that many of you read.  I want to occasionally give updates on how our new home and farm plans are coming.  I will call these posts “Farm Reports.”  I numbered this #2 since it is following the post back in the fall.

The predominant lesson we have learned thus far has been patience! 

James uses farmers as an example of patience in James 5:7-9. We are not an example yet, but are learning what James meant!  We are just learning that typically things don’t happen very fast.  We anticipated that we would get stuff done much faster.  We thought our home would likely sell quicker.  We figured we would get some work done during the winter.  But, it seems that before you can accomplish one goal, you have to do some other things first.  We have made some progress on repairing the barn.  We still don’t have electricity and water, but have the process going and are approved for a new pole and service.  I have learned a ton about fencing, but haven’t really done any fencing!  We got a tractor and several implements.  We have been able plow up a garden spot and 3/4 of an acre for a sweet corn plot.  But it seems to rain every few days!  We are about 90% complete with the house plans.  We basically know what we want and will be ready to go when our house sells.

The challenge is balancing our desires with the time, opportunity, and other responsibilities that we have.  The kids are active in sports most Saturdays, church work is busy, and running daily homelife with four small kids is a full-time job.  So we are learning to balance all of these interests.  All of this has emphasized our need for patience.  Often there is much good that comes from waiting and not forcing things.  The weather is out of our control.  We must learn to work in rhythm with the weather, others, and your family.  Typically, things go better when you wait and pray, rather than act and regret!

For me, it often means not putting unrealistic pressure and expectations on myself and what I want to get accomplished.  This goes for my ministry and also with this farm endeavor.  You have to keep your priorities in line.    A long term expectation and goal must be kept in sight.

Everyone we take out to the farm, says the same thing, “This is beautiful and has lots of potential, but a whole lot of work, how will you do it?” We try not to look at all the work that could be done, but focus on what we can do now.

I think that is what James is trying to get us as Christians to do as well.  Be patient as we wait for the coming of the Lord.  Keep the longterm goal in mind, but do what you can now to make a difference.  

What has this long winter taught you?

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