Life On Purpose

Late February and early August are generally two times a year when life at our house is a touch slower. It's a time when we can idle down a little, enjoy early morning coffee, think about life, make a plan, and finish the work day before dark. On purpose.

When Dads take time for their children, on purpose, and include them in every day life, and not just church, school, and sports, kids grow up with a bigger view on life. Below Kurt is finishing up his plan for the upcoming crop, with Mark, his banker, as his boys soak it in.

I know. Kids need to have the time to be kids. And that needs to happen on purpose as well. After helping Grandpa with odd jobs yesterday these boys asked if they could put a set of Kurt's old rims and tires on Grandpa's truck. I'm not sure how long they will stay on. But I sure had fun watching them have fun.

Kids grew up much earlier in the old days. They were given responsibility and felt good about themselves for being part of a purpose. Not all, but some of our lack of help issues today stem back to when we as a culture lost that as a family.

Kids and adults alike need a sense of direction to be productive. What is expected of them. What needs completed. I don't make a job list as often as needs done. Mostly because our crew has so many responsibilities on their own. And I want they and their families to be as independent as they choose to be. However we all still need each other. So sometimes a list of jobs gets put together as a goal and to stay organized.

We've been slow with the heavy equipment in the shop. However the guys are cleaning and changing oils and filters. Chuck, out Cat mechanic, is coming soon to inspect the machines and check for proper pressures.

As Elijah and Ezra were cleaning cabs yesterday, a Mark Twain quote came to mind. He said he could live two months on a good compliment. I agree. So can I. So I try and remember that when it comes to compliments vs. criticisms with folks I' around.

The nursing home staff aren't all that complimentary about our process in moving Mom. 😊 We are thankful for brother Bill and he and Julie's van. We use 4-wheeler ramps, motorcycle straps, and plywood to get Mom in and out.

After returning her from a non eventful hospital visit, we three brothers (me, Bill, and Doug) went out for breakfast together.

Winter is often a time when farmers look over crop data from the previous year. Then we use this time of year to chart projected income and expenses and see if there is a possibility for a profit. Next month we are putting together a planter clinic for folks we work with. Becks Seed is always trying new management and technology ideas and charting those results. If they see a 3 year success rate in a product they call it Product Proven and record it in their annual PFR book. At our planter clinic we are going to go over planter technology that has a return on investment. It's doing life on purpose and requires some critical thinking.

 

John Hopkins University does the same thing in the health care business. I found they have loads of data. So I thought I would look at some of the countries I have visited, plug in the last two years, and compare confirmed Covid deaths per million people. Draw your own conclusions from the chart. We need to start doing our own critical thinking. And we need to get back to looking forward to living life on purpose.

This past Friday evening Oskaloosa Christian Grade School had their annual fund raiser bazaar. I'm very thankful how our local Christian schools teach about life with and for a purpose.

Kudos to Jan who brought us out a large skillet of breakfast yesterday morning during coffee.

One way of living life on purpose is finding ways to help others succeed. Without looking for recognition. And being genuinely happy for folks when they are successful. Our current culture does not promote this much.

Well, we've made full circle, and we are back to where we started. What's your mission? How do you do life on purpose? We've talked this morning about looking for truth. In farming. In our relationships. In honoring and glorifying God. Truth is the big half of the equation. Love God. However the second half we often forget to talk about. Love your neighbor. We've discussed some of those neighbor circles. Our spouses. Our kids and grandkids. Those we work with. The second half involves engaging the truth in a very practical way. I can think of three times just off the top of my head where we were told to engage. At creation, and after the flood, God tells folks to be "fruitful and multiply". When Jesus left earth he told his disciples to go into all the world and engage. "Fruitful and multiply" is being productive and making things happen. God is glorified, others are blessed, and we live life on purpose when we do. Blessings.