My God and I: Stewardship Partners

I grew up in a Christian home as my parents and their parents. I was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith. I attended Sunday school and church services with my family every Sunday. As I grew older, I didn't like the Ten Commandments because I didn't like the rules, or the way some people chose to interpret them. Although there were times I questioned the workings of the Church, I always believed in God. Living on a farm, God's miracles were all wround me, but as a young man, I was often too busy living to notice life.
Once I started to farm on my own with help from my dad, I began to see God's plan reveal itself. The season changes and how everything works together is amazing. However, I also learned very quickly how man messes up the rhythm of His plan. When a pasture is overgrazed, weeds grow to cover and heal the land. When people use monoculture, they grow the same crops year after year; the nutrients are drianed from the soil and weeds try to recoup the land. When farmers try to keep the soil black, God tries to cover it. When my grandchildren and great-grandchildren realize how the farmers of my generation cared for Mother Earth, they will be appalled. An integral part of my Christian heritage was the belief that it was the duty of mankind to be good stewards of the land. However, the governmnt and its many programs did not always understand what it meant to be good land stewards, and for many years, farmers were encouraged by agricultural schools, county agents, seed and commercial companies to produce more. Farmers were sold on the idea if they planted more land every year that produced bigger yeilds, they would make a profit, so farmers grew more and received less for it; it was called overproduction. Even with overproduction, farmers were told to grow more. Another idea generated by farm programs was that in order to make a living off the soil, farmers had to supplement the ground with chemical fertilizers - produce more, then farmers would make money, and the vivious cycle of man verses Mother Nature ran its course, and, finally, a lot of farmers went broke.
Nature cannot be violated without consequences. Not paying attention to the fact that the soil is filled with life causes many problems. The land and the earth are living organisms. There are billions of necessary organisms in the soil, and toxic fertilizersnsuch as anhydrous ammonia, which create higher crop yeilds for a short time, cause irreversible damage to the organisms that live in the soil. It is just amazing how well-meaning people make poor decisions based on so-called logic that result in disasters. Rivers meander for a reason and changing the course of a river, which includes building a a dam or building a flood plain, for the most part, is not a good idea. Most individuals including educated engineers do not understand the complexities of the land to make changes that are positive. Every day as I look out my window I see God's work, but I also notice man's interference with God's work. Today, I am much wiser then I was in my youth-life is a good teacher. Therefore, when I hear the song of the meadowlark, it reminds me that I need to listen to the wonders of life around me. All this cannot be an accident; it's all perfect.
Everything that I have is a blessing from God and is to be used in accordance with His good and gracious will. In the Bible, God reminds His people that "The land is mine" (Lev. 25:23). "All beasts of the forest are mine...and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains; and the wild beasts of the field are mine." (Psalm 50:10-11). St. Paul wrote in his letter to Timothy, "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out" (Tim. 6:7). Therefore, all hat I have, and all that I am, is a gift from God Almighty.

written February 2003