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
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
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.
--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?
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?
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."
and teaches him the right way."
I am linking this week over at:
