Seeing The Unseen

We live in a culture today where we have to sift through stories and determine what is true and what is not. We often say we need to see it to believe it. Yet there are things that are unseen. Like the future. So, how do you move forward? You determine your purpose. You create a vision. And finally you engage in the mission. 

I know. That sounds like a psychology class in college. Since I didn't go to college I'm going to give you a practical example in the next picture.

Below Karl was struggling with the rate (amount of hog honey) staying locked on while applying hog manure. He discovered a piece of metal had broken off inside the wagon and covered the outlet. So we had to crawl inside the wagon and remove the metal piece. The mission was accomplished safely.

One of our purposes around here is to produce food and fuel as farmers. Our vision is to grow another crop next year even though we can't see the future. And our mission is to continue to get ready to plant that crop next April. Below Mark and Stacy's 8th grader Elijah is helping Grandpa chisel this past years corn stalks.

Just like Karl's broken piece of metal, our mission often takes a detour. Like when wheels fall off the anhydrous bar. Kudos to the crew for ordering parts, removing the broken pieces which is often a hard job, and putting things back together with the new parts.

Improving a farm could go under either vision or mission. Another of our many purposes is to be good stewards of the land we farm. And a vision would be to leave a farm to the next generation better and improved even though we can't always see or know who that will be. BJ's job (mission) this week was pattern tiling a field for Luke and Sarah. Mike was building terraces for Paul and Shirley. And Mark was cleaning up a farm with his trackhoe by taking out junk trees for Brad.

Early Tuesday morning we received three inches of snow. That delayed things for a day or two.

The Family Leader is strongly considering a move from rented office space in Urbandale to a farm east of Ankeny. In the old days this was the Anderson Erickson dairy farm and cows were milked in the barn below. Then it was sold to a family who grew pumpkins and had a venue for visitors to come and enjoy a farming and autumn experience. If the farm purchase works out there have been some good folks who have agreed to fund it.

As a board and staff we had a retreat in the barn from Thursday evening till Saturday noon. Jan and I enjoy being part of many different groups of family and friends. I'm going to goof up and miss some but I want to give you examples. Our old school friends. Our church family. The crew I work with farming including ag retailers, bankers, and landlords. Jan's fellow cooks at Pella Christian High School. Our Becks Seed extended family. You all who visit this blog including folks I have never met. And yes, our Family Leader family. Below we are having a catered meal together Thursday evening in the barn.

The Family Leader's vision if to see a revival in America that honors God and blesses others. God instituted the Family, the Church, and yes, even Government all for a purpose. Where those three circles intersect is The Family Leader's mission. Besides family, TFL works to engage churches. If we as Christians and the Church don't work to improve our failing culture, who will? And finally TFL works with both state and national legislature on elections and policies that fulfill our vision.

On Friday evening we went to a theater in Altoona and watched the first two episodes of Season 3 of The Chosen. The Chosen is an excellent series of the story of Jesus's life while He was here on earth.

Season 2 finished just as Jesus was ready to give The Sermon on the Mount. So the first episode started with Him giving that sermon (Matthew 5-7) to thousands who were living in a deprived culture under wicked Roman rule.

The second episode is about Jesus's interactions with His disciples. They are just common fisherman and farmers, and Jesus starts to show them their purpose. To the disciples the vision of why Jesus came to earth is still unseen. Yet they move forward obediently with their mission.

At the end of episode 2 Jesus tells the disciples they would be going out two by two to tell others about Him. With them being just ordinary common folk, and so much of their purpose unseen, they feel inadequate. They end up at Matthew's home wondering. In the closing scene the 12 of them end up in a circle with their arms around each other asking God for help.

We had a couple of prayer walks at the farm Friday and Saturday mornings. Thanks Cathy. Thanks Mark. On Saturday morning for the prayer walk the gals went one direction. The staff another. And the board yet another, ending up in the cold haymow, possibly a future board room. Although totally unplanned, we ended up in a circle, with our arms around each other, asking God for guidance and help as Family Leader board members.

When we look back in the rearview mirror we see where we have been. Where we are going is yet unseen. If my life was represented as a string I am probably getting to the shorter end. Am I fulfilling my purpose? Have I seen God's vision for my life? If I have, then am I accomplishing my mission? I'm using myself as an example. How about you?

And finally, we can ask the same questions to ourselves as a group of common ordinary Christ-followers, the Church. The future is still unseen. However just like the disciples, we know our purpose. Are we spreading good news to those who don't know the Lord yet? Are we being relevant in a deprived culture? And are we moving forward in our mission? Because we know the end of this unseen story. And we win. Blessings.