Caution: May Contain Nuts

Clearing the field the quick and dirty way.

In Zambia, after the harvest comes in and the fields dry out, the Africans torch the remaining plants and grasses. They literally burn all the nice vegetation that should be plowed into the soil. (This is one of the reasons why you see so much hunger and malnutrition- their underfed fields aren’t producing 1/10 what they should be.) However, as frustrating and sad as this practice is, it reminds me a lot of my own life and my own stupid mistakes (which are infinitely more frustrating and sad than any burnt corn field). I realized the other day, as Monica and I watched our neighbors burn their field, that I’m no different. God blesses my life in so many ways, but instead of cultivating His gifts, I burn the “fields”, leaving little hope for the next harvest. I make so many mistakes with the bounty he’s given me, wasting time, opportunities, and resources.

Thankfully, God is great and my puny attempts in life sometimes yield a harvest, despite my best efforts to ruin everything. Just as the Lord will use the Zambians’ charred plots to produce new fruit in the coming year, He will use my pathetic efforts for His kingdom, blessing me beyond measure, even after I burn out opportunity before it can blossom. At least this leaves no doubt as to who is producing. Without Him my life, my fields, would be fruitless.

I like that. He will bring about His good work in us… in spite of ourselves.

Watching the fields burn from our window.