Pastor's Note

TASTING THE HARVEST
July 30th, 2006

I’ve started to see the signs on country roads advertising Sweet Corn. Soon there also will be signs for home-grown tomatoes, not to mention zucchini and various types of fruit. It’s my favorite time of the year.
I think a country song goes something like, “Next to home-grown tomatoes, true love is the greatest thing in the world.” (Imagine me remembering a line from a country song?!)
Besides the taste of all these kinds of fresh produce, I’m attracted to them for another reason. They are the fruit of the earth, the harvest of what was planted and nurtured.
We need to stay close to the earth from which comes all that we eat. Savoring the wonderful fruits and vegetables so available at this time of year is a way of making the connection between our natural world and ourselves, between the labor of farmers (and gardeners) and consumers.
In eating the sweet corn or biting into a fresh tomato, we can find one more opportunity to utter a word of gratitude to God who so generously provides for us.
August is a time for enjoying the produce of the earth.