Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

For the past few months, it seems that our nation has been consumed by every minutia of news regarding the virus. If we were fortunate and were not affected by the sickness caused by the virus, just about every life I know has been affected by the news of it. Quite frankly, it’s been depressing and I wonder what else we have missed by a media that has been all-consumed by that news. There’s no telling.

At the same time, life has gone on and we are slowly re-opening. I’m glad. And I hope that our efforts to get back to normal will be very successful with no resurgence.

As spring continues, we are moving from the flower stage to the produce stage. I have been able to “shelter in place,” for the most part, yet, there are things that must be done, such as caring for my mother. On the way over to Mitchell County, I cannot help but see the fields of corn that are maturing.

One of the most pleasant sights has been the tasseling of the sweet corn fields and I think, you can’t keep a good ear down. I talked to a grower and he told me that, once the tasseling started, it was about three weeks before the harvest. The countdown to a fresh ear of hot, buttered corn on the cob has begun.

Directly behind my church in Decatur County is a field that is about two weeks into the tasseling stage. The owner of the field is a friend and he is always generous to say, “Help yourself.” I say to myself, silently, “Don’t mind if I do.” Let me add, I’m careful not to take advantage of his generosity.

On my way home, the other day, I took a walk in the edge of the field and could tell by the color of the silks that it was not quite ready. Almost, but not quite. Still, the temptation was there to pull an ear and see just how close it was.  I know I shouldn’t have done it, but the “devil” made me. It was a few days off, but the kernels had formed and I bit into it. Man, was it sweet!

I have another farmer friend in Mitchell County. There is no better friend than a farmer, especially a farmer with a garden. I asked him, “Did you plant any ‘taters this year?”

“Yes,” he replied. “We’ve been eating little red ‘taters for two weeks.” I thought he would get the hint and offer me a mess, but, alas, he didn’t. “Patience,” I said to myself. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I have a tendency to talk to myself. It’s always good to talk with someone who knows so much.

I also know this farmer has some tomato plants. It’s a little early for tomatoes, but I asked if they were the size of a golf ball yet?

“Oh, they’re like a baseball. We’ll be having a tomato sandwich soon,” he said.

My mouth was watering for ‘taters and ‘maters! Still, no offer. Am I going to have to beg? I don’t mind; just make it clear.

The Bible says in Mark 4 that a man scatters the seed. That’s all he does. He sleeps night and day and has no idea how the seeds grow. The Bible continues. “The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.”

It’s amazing. We have so many experts these days on so many subjects. But in the matter of the seed, there are some things that only God can do. Like producing delicious ‘taters, ‘maters, and sweet corn!