Rainy Days

As a dairy farmer, the weather plays a MAJOR role in everyday life. Even though the snow gets annoying in late March, I know it will lead to moisture for the growing season. And now in late April, the rain is here! Surely, there are countless farmers pacing the floors waiting for the puddles to recede. I realize how badly we will need it. There will probably come a day in mid-July or August when we will be praying for any spare inch that the Lord will send our way. The amount of moisture the ground receives dictates many of the prices set for the commodities we feed. In some cases, it depends on whether Iowa, or many other locations, get their share. The price the farmers are currently paid for milk is well below break-even, so I pray for timely weather this growing season.

"Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." James 5:18

For Earth Day, PBS aired a series of specials on water. They covered everything from the way the pipes run under the streets to the current water crisis. I was glued to it for a while on Sunday afternoon. Truthfully, living in Michigan, I thought the water crisis was a bunch of hooey. Now I realize I'm just spoiled. One show was devoted to explaining how society has worked long and hard to move water from its desired destination to where people want it. I say want because, these places with little water were not meant for large populations. Seriously, there is not enough water in Southwest US, and many other places, to support the crowds and their demands. California, for example, is number one for most agricultural products. Take away its unnatural water supply, and the fields will literally curl up and die. Please be aware of water usage wherever you are. We are in a water crisis.

"He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water." Isaiah 49:10b

Thank you God, for life-giving water.