Solving obstacles

An obstacle is something that hinders progress. That blocks one's way. That impedes achievement. This past Friday Bev was visiting on her morning show on KCWN with Steve, a pastor from Newton. Steve was talking how rural kids are great at overcoming obstacles and figuring things out. And how that helps them later in life as adults. I was watching a perfect example of that as 5 year old Jackson was having his 2 year old brother Jayden help him work on a chisel while 2 year old cousin Sydnie, is covering her ears from the noise of the impact wrench.

Steve was also telling Bev how as a kid in school he was facing an obstacle. He went to his father asking that he resolve the situation. He was surprised and disappointed at the time when his dad told him he had to face his own obstacles. I can relate and have a similar story.

I knew what it was like to be the new kid at school. I changed schools 5 times. Sometimes school kids can be like a group of hogs when they are in a confined space. They pick on the newcomer. As a 9th grader in PE class Randy, a 12th grader, and others were constantly humiliating me and promising to beat me up if I didn't comply with their orders. The PE teacher aware of the situation, paired us up for a wrestling match. I was scared. I asked my dad if I could quit high school. My mom said absolutely not. I asked my dad if I could stay home and farm on that PE day. My dad told me I had to learn to face my own obstacles and fight my own fights. I felt let down. I won the wrestling match that day as a 14 year old and life became good. The boys all wanted to be my friends. The girls smiled and said hi. The football coach asked me to go out for football. And the PE coach made Randy write a 2000 word report on sportsmanship because he wouldn't shake hands after the wrestling match.

We've had over 7 inches of rain in the last 16 days. BJ's new pond just south of the Oskaloosa bypass is over half full already. However wet conditions are starting to be an obstacle hindering harvest.

Just east of Oskaloosa we set up an auger over the ditch to load semis on the road. This process eliminated tracking mud from the field on to the road.

Just like as a high school 9th grader I sometimes can feel pressurized when obstacles impede achievements like getting the crop out. However we are never too busy to enjoy the beautiful outdoors like the sunset below, or to remember to tell God thank you for 200+ bushels per acre when obstacles this spring suggested we may not even get a crop.

We always enjoy and will stop for supper together when the girls take the time to bring it to the field. Relationships with family and help makes work fun. Thank you Cassia, Emily, Kristin, and others for meals, for coming out and joining us, and for allowing your children to help and start to solve their own obstacles.

Long unload lines at Cargill/Eddyville have also been an obstacle this fall for a couple of reasons. Cargill is a 35 year old facility and is showing it's high mileage. Also Cargill is encouraging folks with their positive market basis to bring their new crop in.

So after closing time we and others put as many loads on wheels as possible for sometimes shortened dump hours the next day. 10 years ago farmers used wagons and straight trucks. Today many have multiple semis. 

I have a story of a runaway cornhead. We were moving from BJs to Kurt's farm. I was to move the second cornhead. While hooking up to Kurt's pickup I couldn't find a hitch pin clip and decided to stop at BJ's shop and get one. Well I forgot. About two miles down the road I looked in my rearview mirror and noticed I was missing a cornhead! What a feeling. I turned around praying I wouldn't find it upsidedown in a ditch. I couldn't find it. Now that's an obstacle. Finally I saw it sitting far off in a field. It had found a driveway on it's own, clipped a pole, and rolled to a stop.

The guys were obviously waiting for me west of Leighton. It's always tough to call the crew and tell them I goofed. Again. They all came back to the shop and helped me finish repairing the damage that occurred when the head clipped the pole. They were very kind. Thanks guys.

One morning our fertilizer and chemical salesman came out to ride. Thanks Brent for all those Dutch letters. You are welcome anytime.

Yesterday during a rain downpour at Cargill my wires must have shorted out and my tarp wouldn't open under the probe. What an obstacle. I had waited in line quite awhile and others were waiting behind me. Thanks for trying to help me in line Ben. I had to pull around out of line and Kasey who was coming out of the plant with an empty truck helped me get the tarp open enough to get probed and unloaded.

Congratulations Kennedy and Ruth. They are friends that live in Malawi, Africa. Kennedy is a nephew of Moses and Maria who used to help my sister Beth and Dan when they lived in Africa. They were married on Sunday which is today here but yesterday there.

Technology and social media can be an obstacle. It can also be a solution and blessing in staying in touch with friends from all over.

Last Sunday Lane was baptized at Pella II, Kurt and Emily's home church. He joins brothers Jackson and Jayden. It's a blessing to watch them ride in the combine as a family. Emily continues to work with doctors over Lane's low platelets.

Harvest time brings families together to overcome obstacles and get the crop out. Often I become my own obstacle and get in my own way when I become pressurized trying to do things on my own and forgetting that I have a Heavenly Father that, just like my earthly father, loves me enough to help me solve my own obstacles, helping me grow through the process.

We have another family in our area. Our community family. And KCWN, a Christian radio station in our area, helps unite our community family and support each other during our obstacles. You all can help sow seeds of faith for a different kind of harvest. Come join Bev and team this evening at Pella II at 6pm for a praise and worship service as they kick off their week of Sharathon. And please join them next week on 99.9 FM as they ask for support for the coming year. As we go through this harvest season let's be God's hand and feet in helping others solve obstacles.