Sunday, September 7, 2014

Adapting To Our Environment

Sometimes life is overwhelming. Sometimes it's relaxing. Many times it can be both in the same day depending on our environment. We live in a changing world. Weather, prices, technology, people. How we adapt will determine whether we succeed or fail.
 A story is told about a devastating storm on a Caribbean island in 1989. It literally blew down thick timbers. Everything had changed.
 Then something started happening after the destruction. Flowers started growing where the trees had once stood. Now never seen before beauty was coming to life. Those flowers were a gift from a loving Creator.
 When we started visiting Jackson County Colorado 14 years ago the mountains were covered with trees. Most homes were secluded.
About ten years ago a beetle migrated in and killed most of the Lodge Pole Pines. The forward thinking ranchers adapted and harvested the dead pines for firewood. It totally changed the landscape.
 Today a whole new crop of timber has started from all the dead pine cones and is flourishing. Many environmentalist don't give nature the credit it deserves for having the ability to adapt. That's because most value nature more than they do the One who created nature.
Last week Sunday we went to church in Walden. This couple ranches nearby. The gentleman is the part time pastor and his wife runs the power point. While they lead worship their cute little 6 year old daughter is as active as ever wandering around the sanctuary. She has learned to adapt because she was born without arms or legs. 
The gentleman sitting next to Jan and I was an out-of-state elk hunter. He told us he woke up in his tent and was so asphyxiated by his heater he couldn't stand. He decided to go to church and thank God for sparing his life.
 
The machinery used in our ag environment has so changed over the last 40 years. Back then the universities said these 4-wheel drive dinosaurs would become obsolete because of no-till and herbicides. They recommended a farmer own just 3 pieces of machinery, a planter, a sprayer, and a combine.
Back when Jan and I harvested together she drove the combine and I unloaded the wagons. Our 50/50 rented farms were divided by the row in the field. We both had kids in the cab with us.
This fall will again have it's own unique changes and challenges. A bigger crop takes more time and work. Lower prices take more planning and budgeting. Storm damaged plants might mean being more timely. Bigger ears and kernels with lots of rain might mean slower dry down. Storage will be an issue. The fields are soft this year.
The attitude and disposition a farmer takes to the field this fall will have an effect on his productivity, his safety, his health, his family, and his success.  
No matter what your occupation there will be good days and worrisome ones. Be thankful for a new day every morning. Thank God when the work of your hands produce abundance with His blessing and grace. Lean on Him when you need help. And remember most clouds have silver linings. Be willing to adapt.
The way we communicate has also so changed over the last 40 years. We email. We text. We snap chat. We blog. Life is instant and we have fewer face to face conversations where we listen and relate.
 Sometimes our instant communication skills rub off on our prayer life. It's something we believe is important. We are just always in a hurry. Find a place and start your day listening and relating to a God who is very big but also very close.

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