“I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.” (Abraham Lincoln)
My father, Henry, lived nearly 87 years on a small farm in western Michigan (present-day Country Dairy). In the peripatetic, global, fast-paced world of today, it’s hard to imagine spending an entire lifetime in one place – a small 80-acre farm — but it was in the confines of those 80 acres where God "planted" him that he found the why and wherefore of his life.
“Life is simply the repetition in different spheres and on a different scale of the humble exercises of youth.” (Vance Havner, "Pleasant Paths")
Henry grew up in the home his father, Andrew, built when he purchased the original 40 acres in the late 1800s. He died in the house on the hill, across the driveway, that he built for his bride, Ellen, where they raised their family and lived for over 60 years.
“I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where Your glory dwells.” (Psalm 26:8)
The great outdoors, with no limiting walls, where the sun, moon and stars provided light by day and night, where the ceiling was heaven itself, and the foundation was the very soil in which Henry eked out a living.
“And God said, ‘Let the land produce living creatures… livestock, birds of the air and fish of the sea, animals that move along the ground, and wild animals…’” (Genesis 1:24)
Along with a farm dog, Henry had cows, whom he got to know intimately by milking them twice a day, and workhorses, Maude and Daze, who provided companionship for Henry as they walked back and forth across the fields, readying the soil for planting. Birds flitted about, entertaining Henry with the free-throated ease of their singing. There were frogs in the pond, cicadas chirping in the trees, bees abuzz and the occasional howl of a coyote.
It was in here, in nature, that Henry’s faith was forged and became personal.
God is not a person in the usual sense of the word; however, our Maker has every quality of personality except limitation. Because we cannot imagine a personality that is unlimited, we ascribe to God qualities based on our human limitations; however, our difficulties (fortunately!) do not affect the nature of God.
In the great limitlessness of nature, Henry came to know his Creator as infinite, intelligent and loving, and that is who God was to him. It was a faith and trust forged in God’s “house.”
Like a muscle, Henry’s faith was exercised daily and became as strong as the rocks turned over by the plow; as sure as the sun that rose and set daily over the farm; as straight and narrow as the furrows formed by the plow, Henry held as he walked back and forth across the fields behind Maude and Daze. ("In the Garden," pg. 35)
Henry could have written this assessment of country life: “I thank God that I grew up in the country, ‘far from the madding crowd’s ignoble strife.’ God made the country, and man made the town – and you can see the difference! A country boy may learn city ways, but a city boy can never learn country ways. You need to be born and raised in the country to be truly natural. City people and country folks are just ignorant of different subjects.” (Havner)
As he went about his daily chores, the scripture verses he had memorized were internalized until they sank into his soul and became embedded there, like fertile seeds. Henry became an apple tree, planted by rivers of water, bearing its yield in season, with leaves that would never wither, and fruit that would never be damaged by wind. (from Psalm 1)
Nature was Henry’s university. He may have been “simply” a farmer, but if intelligence is seeing the world from God’s perspective, Henry became wise as he milked his cows, harvested the corn and mended the fences. I regret I didn’t appreciate his wisdom and learn more from him.
“Earth’s crammed with Heaven,
And every common bush afire with God.” (Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
God’s invisible qualities, like His eternal power and divine nature, are clearly seen and understood through the world He created…” (Romans 1:20)
For information about the memoir, "In the Garden," contact janethasselbring23@gmail.com
