It was a perfect evening. You, dear reader, know what I’m talking about. There’s a certain feel in the air, a certain smell on the breeze, and the open space in your life has popped a little dream into your head. What is that dream? Maybe it’s a longing to go on a hike in the park, head to the fishing hole, or go out with friends. For me, it was to be soaring around the skies, up to the highest heights, and sending it soaring, up through the atmosphere, up where the air is clear, let’s go… ok, maybe that’s a little out of hand. I just wanted to fly!
Have you ever done something and you just do without conscious thought? You’re so preoccupied with something else that the task right in front of you is at risk? Or you don’t prepare for what you’re supposed to be doing so you end up being woefully inept? There was one such class in college that I remember back with a cringe. It was a morning class and as a junior in college I was a bit cocky, thinking I didn’t really need to be on my A game. Rather than being purposeful the night before, I would wake up tired, sit in the front row and proceed to regularly fall asleep. If you check the notes I took during that class you will find many partial sentences that trail off in a scribble as my mind shut off but my hand kept writing. I received a great exhortation through the grade I was awarded at the finality of that class.
Have you ever considered the benefits of exhortation? A firm, take you by the shoulders and turn you around? The dictionary says that exhortation is, “an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something.” Or “earnest persuasion.” Exhortation is not always comfortable but it is painfully needed.
Flying a paramotor is safe until you stop thinking that it’s dangerous. On that dreamy day of flying, I didn’t realize the risks and didn’t think through my plan. I was confidently running into the sky when I realized I wasn’t doing what I needed to do to make this thing fly. It had been a little while since I had last flown but I careened into it as if it was a walk in the park. As I was supposed to be ascending, I was instead chugging along near the ground thinking that I could use the Force of a Jedi to “send it soaring.” As I was nearing the cornfield wall, I realized my arms weren’t doing what they were supposed to do. With a quick personal exhortation bringing me back to reality, I repositioned my hands, did the actions needed, and was off to the highest heights!
Around the farm, there are many exhortations for caution if you read the warning labels: like the skull and crossbones at the bottom of the silo ladder, or the man twisted up on the PTO, or the guy with his legs cut off on the TMR. These all require my attention if I don’t want to be dismembered. Remember, it’s safe as long as you remember that it’s dangerous!
Life feels safe as long as you remember it’s dangerous. Parents, do you remember that you are the real teachers and trainers of the correct worldview of your kids? Do we realize that sleeping in on a Sunday morning will never be better than training our children by taking them to church? Citizens, do you remember that your country will only stand when “we the people” do what’s right? Spouse, do you remember that your marriage depends on your surrender to the best of the other?
Sometimes we need someone to take us by the shoulders with some not-so-gentle exhortation. Don’t let this new season take you unaware. Engage and step into the place where you belong to make the difference that your role demands.
Meet your farmer – Jonathan Gerdes. He and his wife run a farm-to-table raw milk dairy and farm airbnb in Caledonia, Minn. If he isn’t in the barn, you can find him dating his wife, playing with his kids, leading youth group, or flying in the sky. Visit gerdesfreshfarm.com for more info.
Raw Milk Bread Pudding
6 slices day-old bread, torn into small pieces
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
½ cup raisins (optional)
2 cups milk
¾ cup white sugar
4 large eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
Place bread pieces into an 8-inch square baking pan. Drizzle melted butter over bread and sprinkle raisins over top.
Whisk milk, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, and vanilla together in a medium mixing bowl until well combined. Pour mixture over bread, and lightly push down with a fork until all bread is covered and soaking up the liquid.
Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and the top springs back when lightly pressed, about 45 minutes.
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