My brother had been reading Leviticus and decided that even in the middle of these set backs he needed to rest his two main hay paddocks. They had been running for nine years without a fallow break and he decided 2020 was the year to give them a sabbath. So he reduced his herd, stepped up his efforts in sustainable farming and waited. Then came the fires of January, then came the pandemic, then came the reduction in overseas trade with increasing bans on Australian beef. I called him to find out how he was travelling.
His news was all his paddocks had over produced hay to the point he has run out of storage room for his hay rolls, his two hay paddocks still lie fallow and his cattle are getting double the price they were a year ago. He can’t keep up with demand but the reduced herd numbers has given most of the land he farms a rest. My brother often surprises me: “It takes faith to be a farmer” he told me.
James, in the final section of his letter returns to the themes he began with, the truth that so much of our walk as disciples of Jesus Christ is an exercise in waiting and the stunning thought that it is in the waiting, during the hardship, where the growth occurs. Praying for wisdom to know how to use the hard seasons to form the fruit of God in us (1:2-5). It sounds obvious to say but it is worth remembering that it takes faith to live as a Christian. Faith that the path God commends and guides us to is right and true and just. Faith that endurance, maintaining our integrity, values and convictions will produce a harvest in the end.
I think the thing that stands out for me most in James’ final words are that he expects us to do this life with Christ together. To rejoice, to sorrow, to reconcile, to pray for healing, to do mission and witness, to work, love and weep - together. As we do this James expects we will see results. We will see answered prayers, we will see the fruit of the beautiful and wise life (3:1) growing amongst us.
2020 has been a hard season for many, the ending and beginning of many things and we know there is more to come. But for now, please hear this Advent message, ‘be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near… we count as blessed those who have persevered… the Lord is full of compassion and mercy’ (5:8-11)
A harvest is coming for us, its seeds have been growing in the hard things of this year… but now we wait. We endure, we rejoice, we pray, we receive God - together as we await the merriest Christmas.
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