Before it became a nine hole golf course and home to a private country club, the acreage across from my family home was a farm owned and operated by the Rader Family. Elmer was the “farmer”, a gentle giant of a man, the kind whose physical presence was enough to scare anyone less his size, be easily intimidated until you got to know him which is when his kindness and gentle natured way of teasing came out behind a huge grin that usually adorned his weather worn face. This is how I remember him anytime during my childhood that I interacted with him. There was only one instance I remember witnessing his anger–more like a big disappointment–the time myself and my friends decided to play in his wheat field.

Mr. Rader’s wheat was growing nicely under summertime days filled with sunshine and ample rain. The stalks were up to our chins, and we kids were mesmerized by how gentle breezes made the wheat look like waves on a lake. We loved walking among the stalks and on one particular day we decided to use them as a backdrop for “catching “ us when we fell backwards. You know–the kind of falling back we do into someone’s waiting arms–the exercise of building trust. As our body slowly falls backwards we wait to feel the friendly trusting catch of our partner in the exercise. Instead of a partner, we were allowing the wheat to break our fall and it did, but unknown to us at the time, the wheat wasn’t able to bounce back. Our falls left it lying close to the ground, no longer swaying in the wind, stalks unable to stand sturdy and strong under sunshine. The effects of our unintended damage escaped our immature minds but did not go unnoticed by Mr. Rader. It didn’t take long for him to figure out who the culprits were and each one of us received a well deserved scolding.

In the book of Proverbs it says in chapter 3, verses 5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight”.

Life gives us many opportunities to make choices. Until we know better, we will make mistakes. When we were kids we didn’t know that playing in Mr. Rader’s wheat would create damage…our feet trampling healthy plants…our laying down on the beautiful stalks causing them to be crushed and possibly not be part of harvest time.  We needed Mr. Rader’s discipline and gentle instruction to “know” and “do” differently and better.

Such it is with God. We need His wise counsel. We need His way of teaching that brings understanding and correction to our poor behaviors and decisions that can lead to destruction. We need to “lean” into God and not be controlled by our own devices or negative emotions.

When we kids “leaned” and “rested” on Mr. Rader’s wheat, it wasn’t until we were disciplined later that we realized the error of our ways. The temporary fun and enjoyment of our antics were replaced with being “caught”…getting a “lecture” so-to-speak…knowing that we could never repeat what felt so good and innocent at the time…because Mr. Rader was the owner of the land and wheat crop…the coming harvest was his livelihood and he had the “right” to protect it, right down to every last stalk of golden goodness. 

And, such it is with God. He is the creator of our world and everything in it, including you and me. He is Holy and just, He has set commands before us, not to control or rob us from living an abundant life. Quite the opposite, God wants us to enjoy a life of abundance as evidenced by John 10-10: “The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus)  came that they may have life and have it abundantly”.

Mr. Rader’s farmland is long gone now. By the time I was in elementary school a portion of his land was sold to make room for a housing development. Later, where wheat, sugar beets, corn or beans once grew, a golf course was established with a private club building in the midst of the property. Mr. Rader built a new home directly across the street from my family home. When I close my eyes I can still “see” the wheat….the exact area where we kids trampled and broke down some of his precious plants. Golden stalks are gone now, but beauty has not been lost or destroyed. Now the land is adorned with beautiful green grass, kept watered and groomed by the new landowner.

A lesson learned from childhood–the wrong kind of “leaning” has been acknowledged along with implementing the “right” way of assuming this relaxing posture, one that instructs me to “fall” in the arms of Jesus. Let Him catch me. Let Him hold me. The beautiful part of this? 

His arms are big and strong enough to catch you, too. If you’re not sure…I encourage you to try it. What do you have to lose? Plus, when you DO fall back onto Him, there won’t be a scolding that comes later. On the contrary, you will receive a harvest of His “abundant” life as promised in His Word.