Making A Difference

There are three kinds of workers in the work place these days. There are those who hate their job, (Gallop says 70%), often complaining and thinking others have it better. There are those who tolerate their job, going to work every day because it's a paycheck but can't wait for a promotion or retirement. And there are those who love their job and look forward to the next day and the next week. Who do you suppose is the group that gets the most done and is making the biggest difference?

Often people that make a difference are common folk. They work to have a positive influence. They understand the power of relationships, connections, and engaging. They invest their time, treasures, and talents in others. They pass along credit to those they work with, not expecting recognition in return.

 I am blessed to work with a crew that makes a difference. On busy days they start between 4 and 6 am without being asked to. Most mornings we generally have 6 to 8 semi loads of corn that have been filled the previous evening ready for Eddyville's 6 am start. Thanks for the picture Andy.

The combine crew heads to the field before daylight fueling up, making repairs, washing windows, and greasing the machinery. On fields with wind damage we have to wait on the corn stalks to dry.

Mud, wind damage, and availability of trucks have been the biggest factors in what a productive day looked like this past week. Our goal is 150 to 200 acres a day depending on how often we have to move. Our crew jumps in wherever needed. They don't ask "what about me" when deciding where to combine and often suggest fields thinking about each other. They don't say "It's my turn" on who does what job, however most are totally capable of doing any job. They don't complain when asked to do a job that isn't part of the harvest crew. A few of those jobs would include mowing around picked fields, going after parts to fix a breakdown, or mowing yard.

Harvest days are long. After Cargill/Eddyville closes all available trucks and grain carts are loaded for the next morning. We don't stop for lunch but the highlight of our day is when one of the gals brings supper to the field. Also thanks to you business partners and friends that bring drinks and goodies when you come to the field to ride and check out the crop. Many times after the combines are shut off at night I'll hear someone say, "let's go fix Jim's tarp" or "we need to get those pickups and fuel tank from the previous farm" and many days last well into the night. Thanks for the truck help Luke.

We usually try and work it out to move from a finished farm to the next during the evening hours as to not disrupt the trucks hauling during Cargill's open hours. Often the help driving trucks during the day help move at night.

Jan and I went on a ride last evening checking out how close the soybeans are to harvest and picking up a pizza in Ottumwa. I know many of you are "beaning" already. Depending on the weather I'm sure we will at least switch part of the crew to beans next week.

Many ask about our typical harvest day so that was the focus this morning however I don't want to come across as our only responsibility in making a difference is in work. I took some time off Friday afternoon to attend the Family Leadership Summit in Des Moines. The Family Leader's purpose is cultural transformation in our country and the summit's theme was principles over politics.

Governor Kim was there and spoke about the importance of life in our state including the unborn. It's getting harder and harder these days to support abortion when science is proving that a heartbeat is a real live little person. Something isn't right in this country when you have the right to choose to save a life or destroy it twenty some weeks of age in the womb. Kim gladly took a political risk and signed the heartbeat bill this spring. She is running for governor against the former chairman of the leading abortion provider organization in our state. On a different note I thanked her for added weight limits for grain trucks for two months in the fall and she assured me it would continue. Thanks for making a difference in Iowa Kim.

Chris is majority leader in the Iowa House. While visiting with him Friday evening it was fun to find out that we have done custom work for his father-in-law in Poweshiek County.

 Wrapping up, making a difference doesn't just happen in our work places. It starts with our responsibilities in our homes not just as a bread winner but also as a spouse, a parent, a grandparent, and a friend. Mostly by being an example of how God wants us to live. I try and encourage family and crew to take off as much time as they need for themselves and their family.

We are to make a difference in our churches and communities. Have you ever thought about who are you the face of? What comes to other folks' mind when they think about you? Are you investing in the lives of others? Are you willing to take a risk?

So many folks I know say they want nothing to do with politics. I realize politics sounds like a dirty word. However God ordained family, church, and government when He established structure here on earth. And if you as Christians don't take a stand for what you believe others who think opposite of you on values will, and morals and integrity as we know it in this country will end. Friday evening just before supper the governor, legislatures, civic leaders, and the rest of us prayed for our state and those that serve it.

 Finally when "for such a time as this" events come in your life either big or small be ready to make a difference as Todd did on flight 93 on 9/11/2001 when they overtook the hostages in the cockpit and downed the plane before it destroyed more lives. Also don't forget to thank God for those who have made a difference in our country often as unsung heroes. Most times God just uses ordinary folks doing ordinary things to make that difference. Have a good week.