v 10 You drench the ploughed ground with rain,
melting the clods and levelling the ridges.
You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops.
I find myself writing this during a very dry period in Mid-August. Do you recall that time when hosepipe bans were being announced, the temperature had peaked at 40C for the first time in the UK and crops were wilting in the fields? We all wondered what the world was coming to and if climate change had overruled God. Some parts of the world experience drought and wild fires, whilst others see rivers overflowing and floods in their streets and towns. It all comes as a reminder that God’s plan for the earth was for humanity to act as stewards of His creation – and just maybe we have messed up more than a little. Farmers and Environmentalists have been shouting this at us for years. Even gardeners have noted the lack of bird and insect life in their gardens along with parched earth and early maturing, but smaller, fruit and vegetables.
So how do we celebrate harvest this year?
Answer – with heartfelt gratitude and thanksgiving to God for His wonderful provision of enough – provided we use it sensibly and learn to share with others in greater need. The harvest is not only seen in the fields, but for some it is in the collection boxes for Food Banks! Our local Council recently wrote in the News handout about how it was teaching people to dispose of waste food more effectively – I wrote a reply suggesting the council should spend more on teaching the community to shop more efficiently and waste less in the first place.
Just perhaps that is how we might show our gratitude more positively. Learning to shop thoughtfully, waste less and share generously is gratitude indeed. God’s generous provision deserves no less!
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