2 Part Life

Since I have been one of those " fortunate" people to have had a life event (see my Anniversary post), I tend to view my life into two segments; pre-GBS, and post GBS (GBS is short Guiallain-Barre' Syndrome).

As an elder in a mainstream denominational church I used to belong to, I gave a sermon on Romans 12:1 and 2. That was pre-GBS, and my message was basically a challenge to go against the flow of the world. Little did I know how that would impact the rest of my life, and how that would set the wheels in motion for some real change.

After a lengthy recovery period (18 months), I tried to return to my middle management position in manufacturing, post GBS. After 5 months of part-time work, it became evident that my body would not respond to that type of employment again. Between the Doctor, management, and myself, we mutually agreed it was time to part ways. At some time in the future, I will discuss this further....it's not as hunky dory as it sounds. I nonetheless have a huge disdain towards corporate America.

It was during this time that I was introduced to a new word, new to me at least: Paradigm. The Revised Redmer Rendition of paradigm is "the way we view and think how things work". Our management at the time was using it as the coin phrase to try and improve our production and quality systems which already were above industry standards. "Paradigm shift, paradigm shift" was the corporate american war chant.

I left that world forever in March of 1999. On an early morning a day or two after that, I sat at my desk in our house. I was having some quiet time, kind of fretting, kind of meditating having a God and me struggle. I turned and looked at the morning starting to come alive outside. I realized I was literally in God's hands. My source of income was cut by about 30%, and was dependant on the combination of a private disability policy, and social insecurity, as Dave Ramsey calls it.

I looked out over the 5 to 6 acre field to the east that is ours, and was looking at the stand of hardwoods buttressed by a small cedar swamp. In a sort of dejected, sarcastic way I uttered " OK, God, what am I supposed to do now?" Almost instantly, the spring sun broke brilliantly over the trees, and a paradigm shifted. A very audible voice in my head said, "Everything you need is right here".

I sat trying to comprehend what this could mean, and began surveying the surroundings. To the immediate south sat a big barn that I used for storage, and a little to the west of the barn was a good sized chicken coop that was filled with junk from the previous owners of our home. We had 15 acres of land, 10 of which is tillable, 5 acres of hardwood and swamp, with a creek running along the east end the property.

We had just become acquainted with a family at our children's charter school who were farming a small tract of land organically. Three years ealier...pre-GBS...I would have been the first to name them kooky. Now, post GBS, they are our friends and mentors.

As I discussed all of what had happened with my wife that morning, and told her I thought we were supposed to start farming, I was amazed at the peace that seemed to fall over her, and see genuine excitement that was overcoming her. Neither of us had ever dreamed of farming, and here we were within a matter of a couple of hours, walking our land, and discussing our new future.

I will try not to over burden readers with the use of the word paradigm, but I have had several shifts in my beliefs over the last few years which I will elaborate on in the future. The main one to mention for now is about farming.

I used to think, pre GBS, of farming as tractors, large holstein milking herds, farms smelling like manure with flys everywhere. I equated it with large fields of corn and wheat, pork bellies, and commodity trading. I believed that it was only for the generational farmer with hundreds if not thousand of acres of land. I believed that pesticides, herbicides and what ever other ides were needed to grow things.

I now believe what we have done, pardon the expression, is screwed with God's design. As Americans, we have taken for granted our food supply, and excepted that if it's in the grocery store, it's safe and it's good for you. Having suffered an auto-immune virus, it's caused me to take stock of what we're doing. Our food is devoid of the minerals, vitamins, ezymes, and other nutrients that are needed for a healthy life style. How can they have these things when we are poisoning off all organic matter in our soil that promote healthy plant growth. (there is another essay on this, too long for now)

I believe what real farming is, post GBS, is using the resources that God has already made available. Minerals that are mined from the earth, fertilizer that comes from animals and compost. Pest control through the use of beneficial insects and a 20 gauge shotgun or a .22 caliber rifle or bigger, depending on the pest. Ok, so maybe the last one didn't necessarily come from God, maybe someday I'll hone my spearing techniques! The point is, real soil equals real plants which equals real food. And when animals eat the real plants from the real soil, they grow real meat. Plus growing things this way is "going against the patterns of this world". (Rom. 12:1)

I'd like to report that everything has gone smooth as silk since that time. Unfortunately, as a human being, I tend to get in God's way. I've taken several forays in different directions, but every time we come right back to the farm. This is it, this is what we are committed to. It is our retirement, there are no other options. We drive bus for the head start program during the school year to help supplement my social insecurity, and the farm is pretty much paying for itself during the summer. But we are yearning for that time when we can just head out everyday to fulfill the vision...Post GBS :).