I had a friend post a blog last week that truly struck a chord with me. She was talking about how she had gotten up that morning, started to read some negative articles toward agriculture, and set in for a morning of trying to calm fears, and change misconceptions. Then she checked her phone and found some horrible news, you can read more about it on her blog by clicking here.
The part that struck me most is when she says, “This desire to help my friends isn’t unique to Rural America or Urban America. This is a common bond we all have. In times of need, we as American’s come together to help our friends and neighbors.” She encouraged us to look beyond the issues sometimes and focus on the fact that we are all people, we are all human. Then just the next morning I hear of the shooting in Connecticut at an elementary school. My heart sank, and prayers ensued for all those little kiddos, all the teachers, and all the families that are suffering. On top of that, add a mall shooting in my own state of Oregon, just 40 miles away from our farm earlier in the week. It’s awful, it’s terrible, and in the words of Chris Chinn I agree, that “In times of need, we as American’s come together to help our friends and neighbors”
It makes the problems that we face in farming seem small and insignificant for a time and be humbled by those who have lost their sons, daughters, moms and dads. The prayers are flowing in from everywhere and I know they appreciate that, but I can’t imagine how much it still hurts. My heart goes out to all of those who will have a much more sad Christmas this year than they ever thought possible. But as Robbie Parker, a dad of Emilie Parker (6 year old who was killed in CT), “Let it not turn into something that defines us, but something that inspires us to be better, more compassionate and more humble people.”
I know that this may seem like a strange topic for a farming blog, but sometimes you just can’t deny things that happen in your world around you, things that don’t have to do with slugs eating your crop, the rainy weather, or what issues ag is facing in the world today; but those things that truly challenge you to do just what Emilie’s dad said, inspire us to be better, more compassionate, and more humble people.
Mourners at the Memorial set up in CT
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