Fertilizing

My commute use to take me by rolling fields of wheat. Golden in the sun and dark brown dirt in the fall fog and rains. I often visit the farms on Greenbluff to enjoy the rich plethora of apples, peaches, more apples and veggies like pumpkins, squash and corn. And now, I rarely commute more than five minutes from any one place and in that, it’s a see of traffic on a four-lane highway. However, I recently started a book called Omnivore’s Dilemma which begins with a tale of such farm land as I use to see. The author tracks four different routes by which Americans get their food, industrial (twice over), organic and hunting and gathering. He started with the process that most of us partake in: the industrial route of the dominating crop of z-maize: Corn.

He proceeds to outline how the government subsidizes the American farmer to make more and more corn beyond the demand and even beyond the possibility of consumption. He spoke of farmers using twice as much fertilizer on crops as a way of insurance to make sure they yield the largest harvest possible. The ongoing goal to produce more and more depletes the ground of nutrients, causes a great deal of erosion, and pollutes the air and water with the overabundance of contaminating fertilizers and pesticides. And yet, despite all their efforts or any growth in production, these farmers can barely make enough to support themselves. Many work extra jobs, live off a spouse’s income and hope that a great yield measured against always dropping prices will even out in the end, though it rarely does.

I drive through fields and pick fruit for fun. I realized that the farmers worked hard and that many uncontrollable forces effected their work and income, but I had no idea how that affected the typical consumer. I never realized we all pay the price in taxes to keep this process rolling and pay an even higher price just so we can have the level of comfort and choice we have. Nearly half of the 45,000 different products in a typical grocery store have corn in it. Check the label: the corn chips, linoleum on the floor (corn is part of the material base), wax that keeps the fruit shiny, spices, hamburger (what do they eat), even Twinkies. Ok- corn won’t be on the label but the various chemical names like glucona delta lactone and mono- and di-glycerides for processed Type 2 corn touches almost everything.

Well, to move to a tangent and really the deeper thoughts behind this newly gained knowledge, I speak on the words of Paul. I read in his second letter to the Corinthians that those who sow generously will reap generously.

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly, so that in all thins at all time, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work…Now he who supplies see to the sewer and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of righteousness” (v. 6-8,10).

What struck me about this verse is that God will bless the efforts of those who respond to Him in obedience in accordance to what we have promised to give. We are not told to invest with time, treasure and talents, and then if efforts don’t materialize immediately, throw a little bit extra of our own “fertilizer” to make crops grow. God did not say that He will provide x amount of yield but we have to come up with a way to make more. He’s not even asking for more. He’s asking for what we have promised to give and He will richly bless that. Our fertilizer is not really what the world needs more of, kind of like having corn in ice cream seems weird and unnatural. It’s God’s own strength, glory, and perfection that need to infiltrate everything. It’s God that needs to be on every label, because with that assurance, one does not have to worry about who or what is being exploited- it’s not happening. Our best efforts and good-intentions are still tainted with imperfections. That’s not to say we should not sow or even “fertilize” with our personality and gifts. It means that we should put forward our best for God, but not assume that only our efforts will reap a harvest. God “supplies the seed” and will “enlarge the harvest.”