I just saw a video on CNN.com that showed a farm in Colorado setting aside a day to allow the general public to come onto their potato fields and fill up bags with free potatoes. They had about 5,000 cars occupy the surrounding area as people piled out and covered the fields, stooping over and filling their plastic bags. Apparently the farm had a great year money- wise, and they were closely connected with the community, having many friends and family in that part of Colorado. So they figured “why not?”
The images showed men and women in clusters in the dirt, walking in the along tractor tire tracks, bending over, stuffing thier sacks. The farm spokesman, in a thick mid-American accent, said that they never expected this sort of turnout. Even a church called up wanting to send 5 of their workers to retrieve potatoes. He remarked about the strong general need for food in this ecomony. People just need.
So that was it – the farm just made the decision to donate the potatoes, they contacted a few news outlets, and the people poured in. Nothing complex about it – it was simple. They had something to give, they let the people know and the people came. The potatoes were sitting right on top of the soil, they didn’t even have to dig.
If we have something that something needs, we can just let them know we have it, and they’ll come and get it. It’s not about superiority or inferiority, it’s just need and come-and-get-it. Doesn’t make me better than you or vice versa, it’s just we need and “here you go”.
I’m a pastor, have been one for a whole 5 months now. In that short glimpse of time, I’ve seen eyes that need. They look just like my eyes when I need. When we need, we can try to cover it with our voice and a confident walk, maybe a laugh or two, but our eyes will always tell the story. Like a homeless man walking through a dump site looking for scraps of food, we walk around with needful eyes.
And then someone has what we need and we come, and take it. Thank you. We fill our bags and then go.
What is it you have that someone needs? If someone walks onto the field of your life, what do have for them? Your needful eyes will become restful eyes as you get what you need somewhere. And then what do you have to give?
For me, when I need I look upwards and God gives to me. And then that love He gives me He tells me to give to others. “As I have loved you, you love others”, He says.
If you have something to give, people will come to you for it. For potatoes, or something else.
