Winter Wheat: Part 2

While I was immersed in last month's #31Days of Listening

with Chronic Illness,

you may remember the two words that my friend

shared with me:

Winter Wheat,

and the post I wrote about it here. 

There were notes I had taken then,

while I researched,

that my heart tucked away

to be held in a silent hug

because they felt too personal.

 But then that same friend called me just tonight

to say he was surprised to 

find out that one of our favorite singers

had written a song with those very words

contained within the chorus.

Are the words "listen" still on my horizon?

I would hope that by now my heart has learned 

a little more about paying attention!

So I searched out my tucked-away notes 
and found these words saved

from Wikipedia on Winter Wheat farming:

"Winter wheat production quickly spread throughout the Great Plains, and was, as it still is, usually grown using the techniques of dryland farming.

"The nature of dryland farming makes it particularly susceptible to erosion, especially wind erosion. Since healthy topsoil is critical to sustainable dryland agriculture, its preservation is generally considered the most important long-term goal of a dryland farming operation. Erosion control techniques such as windbreaks, reduced tillage or no-till, spreading straw (or other mulch on particularly susceptible ground), and strip farming are used to minimize topsoil loss." 


And more about Dryland Farming from this article in

Scientific American, November 26, 2012  

(these farmers) "continue to wring profits from their yields through the practice of extremely efficient farming, using no-tillage methods to preserve moisture and soil, while leaving at least half the ground fallow at any given time." 

Can you hear the words that jumped out at me?

"preservation"

"windbreaks"

"no-till"

"fallow"

Each of those words speak to a process that has been 

given extra care,

perhaps even labeled

"tenderly."

The Master Gardener is not subjecting

those little green shoots

to the harshness of winter

before He has made sure

that the proper

provisions and tender care

have been made.

  I thought I had listened to all of Rich Mullin's songs,

but I had missed this one,

the one that God had hugged close to His heart

until just the right moment:

 

"And the moon is a sliver of silver

Like a shaving that fell on the floor of a Carpenter's shop

And every house must have it's builder

And I awoke in the house of God

Where the windows are mornings and evenings

Stretched from the sun

Across the sky north to south

And on my way to early meeting

I heard the rocks crying out

I heard the rocks crying out 

 Be praised for all Your tenderness by these works of Your hands

Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life Your land

Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that You have made

Blue for the sky and the color green that fills these fields with praise 

 And the wrens have returned and they're nesting

In the hollow of that oak where his heart once had been

And he lifts up his arms in a blessing for being born again

And the streams are all swollen with winter

Winter unfrozen and free to run away now

And I'm amazed when I remember

Who it was that built this house

And with the rocks I cry out 

 Be praised for all Your tenderness by these works of Your hands

Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life Your land

Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that You have made

Blue for the sky and the color green that fills these fields with praise."
--Rich Mullins, "The Color Green"


My heart must stop and Praise Him 
here,
for all of His tenderness
that He works 
over this quivering and small
planting 
that is held within my heart.


He knows what He is doing, my friend.
We may not even realize it,
but He has already made
provision
for every step that has been needed
before the winter winds will blow.  

"Listen and hear my voice;
    pay attention and hear what I say.

When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually?
    Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil? 

 When he has leveled the surface,
    does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?
Does he not plant wheat in its place,
    barley in its plot,
    and spelt in its field? 

 His God instructs him
    and teaches him the right way."

--Isaiah 28:23-26 NIV 

I am linking this week over at:

#TeaAndWordTuesday, Meg Weyerbacher 

#TellHisStory Jennifer Dukes Lee