Harvest Legacy

A few weeks ago, Sharon Price, one of my dad's first cousins, conducted a "Price Legacy" tour. One of the places we visited was Likely Cemetery in Greene County, IL. One of the persons buried in that cemetery is Henry Price. Henry was the first "Price" ancestor to come to America. Born in Germany in  1819, he came to Greene County, Illinois, in the 1840s. He became a United States Citizen on October 29, 1866 -- almost exactly 150 years ago! Sharon was kind enough to give me a copy of his citizenship papers. I was fascinated to note that he had to sign the paper in his original German name: Heinrich Preise. A farmer by occupation, he owned a 380 acre farm at the time of his death in 1900.

Henry was my great-great grandfather. Many of his descendants were also farmers on other farms in Greene County, including my great-grandfather, George, my grandfather, Othel, and my father, Basil. Presently my brother, Greg, is finishing up the 2016 harvest on our Greene County farm.

Which brings me to something that I noticed on Henry's tombstone that made an impression on me. It says this:  "SEED TIME AND HARVEST SHALL NOT CEASE."


This phrase is part of a verse in Genesis 8: “As long as the earth endures, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (verse 22)

Some years the harvest has been good; some years the harvest has not been good. In some wet years seed time is a challenge; some times it is easier to get all the seeds in the ground in a timely manner. This year, the harvest is abundant. However, we give thanks for the harvest in all years.

Farming techniques have dramatically changed in my life-time -- it would be almost impossible for Henry to fathom the changes since he was around. But a few things have not changed---farmers plant the seeds; farmers harvest the grain, but God makes it possible for the basic process to happen: the seed sprouts and grows; all by itself the soil produces the grain. (Some phrases from Jesus' teaching in Mark 4.)

I don't know too much more about my great-great grandfather, Henry. I am impressed and grateful that he reminded me (as I looked at his tombstone) in the midst of Harvest 2016 that "seed time and harvest shall not cease." That promise has outlasted him and will outlast us "as long as the earth endures!" Thanks be to God.

"Consulting My Own Preference"

While reading a biography of President James Garfield (Destiny of the Republic, by Candice Millard), I was struck by this comment he made:  "I did not feel it right to consult my own preference in such a case."


Here's the story around that statement. In 1862, James Garfield was a Brigadier General in the Union Army. He also had been elected to congress. However, he did not take his congressional seat until a year or so later when President Abraham Lincoln asked him to (he was still actively serving in the military).


Here's what Garfield said, "I have resigned my place in the army and have taken my seat in Congress. I did this with regret, for I had hoped not to leave the field till every insurgent state had returned to its allegiance. But the President told me he dared not risk a single vote in the House and he needed men in Congress who were practically acquainted with the wants of the army. I did not feel it right to consult my own preference in such a case."


In light of a call of God on our lives; in light of the mission of the church that Jesus has given us; in light of the hurts and hopes of people around us, do we "consult [our] own preferences"?  Or in such cases as these do we have the courage to say "I [do] not feel it right to consult my own preference"?


This little story from James Garfield's life was an encouragement to me. How about you?