A Life Well-Lived, Part 22; Harvest Time

Every time Timothy left on a mission trip, I had the special privilege of driving him to the airport. It was a bonding time (at least for me!) that I wouldn’t trade with anyone! It just so happened that all of his international flights departed before 6:00 A.M.! So, in order to make it to the airport in time, we would have to leave the house by 3:00 A.M., which meant I had to get up at 2:00! In actuality, he would sleep while I drove, but we still enjoyed some one-on-one time at the airport, checking in the luggage and sharing one of those high-priced bagels before he had to get in line for the TSA pat-down. I would always stand post and watch until he made it out on the other side of the security lines. He would look up, find me, and wave high up over his head, so I could see him. I would wave back, then he would disappear down the hall and out of sight. Then the tears would start. Yes, I was the one who encouraged him to go, and I wanted him to take on the world, but it was still hard. Separations are always hard. I remember the early ride to the airport when Timothy was going to be gone for a year to Taiwan. He would be teaching English in their public schools. Oddly, English was his weakest subject in school! I don’t think he ever did learn where to put commas in a sentence! Lol But the Taiwanese schools mainly wanted a native English speaker to teach the pronunciation and inflection of the English language. We teased Timothy that his students would be learning Okie English, with lots of “y’alls” and “ain’ts” sprinkled in!

The underlying purpose for the trip was to show the love of God and let the people see the light of Christ in the lives of the team members. This would lead to opportunities to share the gospel with anyone who had questions (We have emails from Timothy during his time in Taiwan asking prayer for people he had met who were curious about the faith. Months later, a follow-up email told of their decision to forsake all and follow Christ as a result of the light that was shone by the young American teachers.). We were in route to the airport, driving in the dark, and 19 year-old Timothy had already gone into nap mode. I was deep in thought, since this would be his longest trip away from home, and I was already starting to miss him. I turned on the radio and this song started playing (you old-timers might remember it):

There is peace and contentment in The Father’s house today, Lots of food on His table, and no one is turned away. There is singing and laughter as the hours pass by, But a hush calms the singing as the Father sadly cries,

"My house is full, but my field is empty. Who will go and work for Me today? It seems my children all want to stay around my table, But no one wants to work in my fields."

Push away from the table. Look out through the windowpane. Just beyond this house of plenty lies a field of golden grain. And it’s ripe unto harvest, but the reapers - where are they? They’re in the house - Can’t the children hear the Father sadly say,

"My house is full, but my field is empty. Who will go and work for Me today? It seems my children all want to stay around my table, But no one wants to work in my fields. Who will go and work in my fields?” *

I realized as I listened to the words of the song that it’s not about me. It’s all about Jesus and the souls of men. It’s about where people will spend eternity. I had raised my kids on missionary stories and told them repeatedly, “This is the life! A life sold-out for Jesus! It’s the most important thing you could do! Have a purpose worth living for and a purpose worth dying for!” So, why should I be surprised when that’s what they wanted to do? And even though this was exactly what I had always prayed for, it was still hard. Separations are always hard. As I surrendered my son, once again, to God’s plan, I began to quietly sing along with the familiar song. That’s when I heard Timothy singing along with me from his “napping nest” in the passenger seat. He wasn’t asleep, after all. I had never heard that song played on the radio before – only in church. I know God sent it to us at that moment to remind us why we were doing this and give us both courage for the road ahead. After the tearful wave across security lines, as I was driving out of the still dark parking lot, the same song, sung by the same person, came on the same station again. Yes, God knew I needed to hear it one more time! Friend, the fields are ripe for harvest, and the workers are few. If you were not needed for this time in history, you wouldn’t be here. Sometimes God calls us to a field that is mundane and close to home, as a caregiver for a bedridden parent or a stay-at-home mom of cranky preschoolers. Sometimes God calls us to leave everything we know and shine His light in a dark uncomfortable world. Sometimes our calling is to pray for others who are on the field, or send someone who dearly wants to go, but lacks the funding (Timothy talked to me often about starting a non-profit organization to launch young people who couldn’t afford to go on short-term mission trips). It’s time to report for duty.

Dear Father,

I'm not going to lie - this separation from Timothy is hard. But I thank you that even after he is gone, Timothy's life is still bringing in a harvest for You. Use us in your Kingdom. Give us a passion for the souls of men. Direct our gaze away from temporary pleasures and toward eternal treasures. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

John 4:35 “You say, ‘Four more months to wait before we gather the grain.’ But I tell you, open your eyes. Look at the fields that are ready for harvesting now.”

Luke 10:2 “And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

*My House Is Full (But My Field Is Empty), Words and Music, Lanny Wolfe, Lanny Wolfe Music Co, copyright 1977.  Managed by Capitol CMG publsihing, Nashville. TN. Used by permission Paradigm Music Productions, Inc.