Farmers Talking About Rain

Storms swept through the area a little while ago and, as I went out to check the rain gauge, a wry smile crossed my face as I wondered how this would be reported by the area farmers. Looking at the gauge I mused: The realist would report that we had eight tenths of an inch of rain; The optimist would report that we had eight tenths of an inch, yet the way the ditches were running we probably had a bit more than that, but the gauge just couldn't get an accurate measurement; and, The pessimist would report that we received less than an inch of rain, even though God knew we needed more in anticipation of Spring planting.
It is all a matter of perspective, mixed with a sense of relationship to the dynamic world in which we live, and liberally side-dressed with enough 'one-ups-man-ship' so as to appear sufficiently knowledgeable without giving away an unspoken bias. How much rain a farmer either receives or needs at any one moment on the farm is generally directly related to how well the overall operation is doing at that time of the year, how well the plants are doing in the field and/or what one specific farmer thinks the person to which they are speaking really needs to know. After all, any farmer worth their grain doesn't really want to talk about such personal and intimate things with people who won't immediately understand the implications of a given amount of rain OR are likely to use that information as a direct quote to someone else who doesn't have any business knowing how much rain they got. It can be complicated.
In fact, in the Christian community it is a lot like how people talk about the denomination to which they belong. No matter which denomination you name, United Church of Christ, Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Church of God . . . they all carry a certain amount of implied baggage, both public and private. Name a congregation, name a denomination and name a geographic location and, among certain individuals who know such things, there will always be the immediate recognition of 'Okay to talk', 'Not okay to talk' or 'Step lightly here like there might be a cow paddy under your next foot fall'. Not unlike a farmer deciding how to report the rain they received in the last storm, a Christian has to exercise the greatest of care in naming how blessed they are, how mission oriented they are, how close to Jesus they seem or how near the Kingdom appears on any given Sunday morning. There are just some things you cannot say in good conscience to some people without knowingly setting off the apocalypse. It can be complicated.
So, for today, I am pleased to report to you that this former farmer received eight tenths of an inch of rain, just when we most needed it. Also, I am grateful to be a part of the Church of Jesus Christ which, despite denominational afflictions, continues to serve, witness and be guided by the Spirit to glorify God, day-in and day-out. Those two things are simple for me today. I pray they are to you, as well.
As my wife reminds me most Sunday mornings: KISS . . . Keep it simple sweetheart. I can do no more and will report no less. 
Something to ponder on the journey.
(c)dcw2020 

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