We are walking through a difficult time. We have had no measurable rain for several weeks, and it shows. We've had a week of mid-90 degree temps, and today and tomorrow we should hit 100 degrees.
The Farmer talks about the top layer of soil being extremely dry, locking in some moisture below. When we dig down in the soil, we do find some moisture. In the mornings, the corn leaves glisten with dew and lay out flat. But later in the day, these same leaves are all dried up and curled up. I suspect it's the corn plant's way of protecting itself against the heat and evaporation. Eventually, the whole corn plant starts to look kind of spiky. We call this the pineapple stage, and it's not a good thing. Without rain, those spiked leaves are the "death rattle" of the corn plant.
This morning, while walking, I had tears in my eyes as I saw that the beans still look good. How they can look good in spite of the circumstances, I'm not quite sure. This would be our first good crop of heirloom beans, but without rain, they cannot continue to survive.
I wrestle with God. He sends the rain, and he holds it. I wonder about our neighbors who are watching this same slow-motion destruction of this year's harvest dreams. I pray. I think about Joseph in Egypt, over-seeing the 7-year drought that encompassed the entire middle eastern world. I remember back to 1988, the last really bad drought year we had, and try to push away the thoughts. I plead. Not again.
Oh God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
--Psalm 63:1
I have been crying out to the Lord for rain. Let's continue to ask. He has promised He will never leave or forsake. More of His people need to beseech for this.
ReplyDeleteOur area is also experiencing extreme drought. We are surrounded by devastating forest fires... joining with you in pleading with the Lord for rain.
ReplyDeleteI am in N. Ga. and the corn fields are yellow. It's a horrible sight to see. We just did have about 20 minutes of hard soaking rain. But that's all we.ve had in over a month right here. It's rained all around us. We are in a valley here so it can rain realy good a mile to the North and we get nothing here. Very sad. I told the trees ealrier to cry out for rain. And we got some! They are very happy now! So are my sheep. And I am too. I stood out there in it for a few minutes, til I saw lightening. I will pray that you all get some rain up there. I know grain prices are going to be really high this winter.
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