One of the wisest farmers I have
ever had the privilege to know never
made much of a name for himself on
production lists, the show ring, or
auction barns. But he has always
been -- and continues to be - a good
farmer. He appreciates his way of life
and accepts his responsibilities
wholeheartedly. While that may well
be a trait that’s applicable to most
farmers, no one in my acquaintance
exemplifies such character more
profoundly than “Farmer Richard.”
An ever-humble man with modest
aims, “Farmer Richard" has
perennially had the same problems
and worries that face most every
other farmer. He has had his ups and
downs; his moments of joy and his
times of grief. He’s been faced with
tragedy and tears.
Soon nearing his 75th birthday,
the still young-at-heart Lancaster
Countian is as enthusiastic as ever
about life and what it has to offer. If
you'd meet him -- or already know
him -- you can see the truth of that
statement written in his eyes.
“Farmer Richard” is unlike many
other farmers because for as long as
I’ve known him he has never lacked
appreciation for what he has.
Once described by his son as a
man of steel, “Farmer Richard” is a
THE AGE
OF MIRACLES
Lesson for May 7,1978
Background Scripture;
Acts 5:32-43.
Devotional Reading:
Isaiah 35:3-10.
When I was a young pastor
TO ENSILE
FORAGE CROPS
is not too early to be
planning for making silage
from several early forage
crops. Some livestock and
dairy producers plant
Winter rye to make into
silage at beading time; with
a little more warm weather
and moisture the rye will
soon be in the heading stage.
The regular hay crops such
as alfalfa and red clover can
be cut in the bud to early
blossom stage for excellent
Rural Route
All that glitters is not gold
lean and strong individual who has
known the value of work' for all of his
life. He still rises early every morning
to feed, care for, and milk his
Guernseys. A full slate of field chores
is also a part of his routine. His hands
are large and his handshake is firm
and genuine. He has a sense of
humor which could probably melt the
sternness of a federal revenue agent,
and behind, his polished glasses are
friendly eyes which can sparkle with
delight. It’s obvious he doesn’t take
much for granted.
Profits, efficiency, respect from his
family, friends, and neighbors are
important to "Farmer Richard,” just
as they are to most of the rest of us.
The difference is that he won’t let
one of his own ambitions -- -for
profits, efficiency, respect, or even
fame -- overshadow aspects of life
which he considers to be even more
important. I can recall one short
conversation with "Farmer Richard”
which illustrates that point most
profoundly.
f was looking across contoured
strips of alternating brown and green
fields which curved gracefully on th£
hillside across the- road from his
house. There, in the middle of a field
which had recently been prepared for
planting, stood a large tree. On first
I would just as soon avoid
passages of scripture like
the story of Simon Peter
raising Dorcas from death at
Joppa. I found the concept of
miracles unsettling. Oh, to
be sure, I could have ex
plained this story with-the
idea that Dorcas had not
really been dead, but only
seemed dead. Thus, we
might reason that Peter did
not bring her back to life, but
only revived her from, a
coma or loss of con
sciousness. Of course, the
writer of Acts did not say
that, she only seemed dead,
he definitely' said that she
had “died.” .
silage. In many cases, more
feed nutrients are preser
ved by making these crops
into silage at the proper
stage of cutting, rather than
trying to make hay in ad
verse weather conditions.
Stage of maturity is very
important for getting the
most feed nutrients; in most
cases the weather does not
cooperate for making top
quality hay in May or early
June. Winter wheat and
barley are at the peak of
feeding value when made
But Peter prayed
Another loophole would
have been the oft-repeated
idea that the age of miracles
was limited to the Biblical
period that ended with the
completion of the New
Testament. Now that is a
tidy little explanation, ex
cept that it doesn’t stand up
under examination. There is
nowhere in the New
Testament where it is
suggested that the age of
miracles is to be limited in
time. Quite the contrary,
Jesus indicated that- his
followers would do even
greater works than he.
So, caught on the horns of
those two dilemmas, I
into silage in the heading to
blossom stage of maturity.
TO INSPECT
LIGHTNING
ROD SYSTEM
The thunder storm season
is at hand and buildings that
have rods should get con
siderable protection; that is,
if the rods are connected and
free of obstructions. We urge
owners of rodded buildings,
especially barns, to inspect
them closely and. remove all
items that will stop the flow
of the electrical bolt. In
( ~. <v>UST BE fllVFin.l MONOTONOUS ]
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glance, it was not beautiful; it was an
obstruction. It blocked efficiency
when working the field and robbed
the soil of nutrients which the crops
should have. That lone tree looked
out of place.
"Why do you have that big tree
standing there in the middle of the
field?” I asked the grandfatherly
gentleman.
Although I don't remember his
exact reply, I can recall that “Farmer
Richard’s” eyes expressed a love for
that tree before the verbal answer
came from his lips. His words went
something like this:
"You can grow a crop every year,
but it takes a lifetime to grow a tree.”,
That impressive bit of wisom is
typical of “Farmer Richard’s”
philosophy. It’s probably a big reason
for his not having made it “big”
according to standard
measurements of success such as
DHIA averages and crop yields. But
he has been a happy, successful, and
respected man nonetheless -- and
deservmgly so.
“Farmer Richard’s" wise comment
rnade a lot of sense when I first heard
it a few years ago, and it makes even
more sense now that I have gained a
better appreciation for such “simple
generally tried to skip over
such passages. If I couldn’t
reconcile them, at least I
could ignore them!
In those days I saw these
stories as being quite con
trary to the principles of
science. Confident that a
scientific view of the world
left no place for miracles, I
avoided the question as best
I could. Today, however, I no
longer find miracles con
trary to science. Our
scientific worldview has
changed greatly since I was
a young man. We have had to
change radically our view of
what is and is not possible.
Today, instead of being
smug about how much we
many cases straw, bay,
bags, or bird nests might be
between the rod and the
building and cause a fire.
Also, be sure the rods go into
moist soil and are well
grounded. A close inspection
of the rod system will assure
the protection that is needed.
TO PLANT
SOYBEANS
After the com is planted, it
is time to plant soybeans;
this is, if the com goes into
the ground the first part of
May. -In this part of the
By Tom Armstrong
pleasures” which I used to take for
granted.
I was a farmer up until a little over
four years ago, but I never had a full
realization of all the "built-in"
blessings that way of Jlfe offers. A
tree was just a tree, for example.
“Farmer Richard’s" lesson, I
believe, is that many of us are too
blinded by pur own interests and
ambitions tdsee the more valuable --
but not necessarily more profitable -
paths of life.
"Farmer Richard” took his plow
out of the furrow and drove around
that free, when most of us would find
it more advantageous to just cut it
down and plow straight through.
Sadly, in more ways than one
we've hitched our lives to a
bulldozer. Just about everything
seems to ba disposable and
dispensable. We’re always in a hurry
and in search of shortcuts. Time is
scarce for what we can’t easily
replace: ever-demanding of projects
which in the end are of lesser value.
Granted, we need efficiency and
profits, but there should also be
room for the virtues Represented by
that one lonely tree and the farmer
who cared enough to let it live.
know about our natural
world, we tend to be more
humble in the face of what
we don’t know.
Today I do not find it
difficult to believe that Peter
prayed and Dorcas was
restored to life. Nor do I find
it hard to believe that God is
still performing mighty
works like that today.
Many believed
One reason is that I have
seen people healed by the
power of faith before my own
eyes. I have spoken with
people who “died” (were
pronounced clinically
“dead”) and were
resuscitated back to life by
country higher yields of
soybeans have been har
vested when planted mid-to
late May rather than waiting
until the warmer weather of
June. Soybeans will grow
most anywhere but certain
practices will help increase
yields. For example, lime
and fertilizer should be
applied based upon a
complete soil test; seeding
rate per acre depends upon
row width; inoculation is
needed when planted in new
ground; in addition, the
Farm Calendar
Sunday, May 7
Apple Blossom Festival at
South Mountain
Fairgrounds. Free ad
mission.
Monday, May 8
Central 4-H daily Club
meets, 7:30 p.m. at the
Bud Welsh Farm, Admire
Road, East Berlin.
Wednesday, May 10
Lebanon County Con
servation District board
their physician. I dornot find
it hard to believe that what
Peter did with Dorcas in
restoring.her to life, Christ’s
followers can do to-day as
well. ~ -' f |
Miracles are not really
contrary to science, I have
realized, only contrary to
what we know of science.
They represent an area of
reality that is still largely
unknown to us. But just
because something is
unknown, doesn’t mean it
isn’t real or cannot Happen.
If science has taught us
anything, it is that we should
never say “never.” The age
of miracles is not over.
control of weeds is essential
to good yields. Details on
soybean growing can be
found in the 1978 Agronomy
Guide. Every fanner should
have a copy.
TO BE CAREFUL
OF UNKNOWN
MATERIALS
Again, I’d like to caution
(Turn to Page 29)
of directors meeting, 8
p.m. in Room 207 of the
Lebanon County
Municipal Building,
South SthStreet.
Fruit Growers meeting, at
Harry Black’s Catoctin
Mountain Orchard,
Thurmont,Md.
Study Advisory Committee
of the Department of
Environmental Resour
ces Comprehensive