We want to harvest success, health, growth, love and light in our lives, so what seeds do we need to plant and where should we be planting them?  

Do you remember the lyrics of the 70’s song Turn, Turn, Turn, by The Byrds? 

Most people don’t know that these words come straight out of the bible from the book of Ecclesiastes (3:1-8) and happens to be one of my favorite books.  

We are reminded that there is a time for everything and now that it is autumn we are talking about a time to harvest.

Before we focus on harvest, we should first take a look at the prerequisite: a time to plant.

A time to plant must come before a time to harvest. This law is written in antiquity from the creation of the world. Being purposeful, thoughtful, and careful are all necessities in the season of planting.  

“ …according to the seed sown will be the harvest.”    -Ellen G. White

Does this have any application to our lives outcomes? If planting and reaping are demonstrated throughout nature, what implications does that have for humans?  If we want to harvest success, health, growth, love and light in our lives, what seeds do we need to be planting and where should we be planting them?  

For now we are focusing on planting in the fertile soil of the human brain.  We are going to be spending some time thinking about thoughts.

One of my favorite examples of this comes from Earl Nightingale’s conversation called the Strangest Secret.  Nightingale states: 

“Suppose a farmer had some land and it’s good, fertile land. Now the land gives the farmer a choice. He may plant in that land whatever he chooses, the land doesn’t care. It’s up to the farmer to make the decision. Now remember, we’re comparing the human mind with the land. Because the mind, like the land, doesn’t care what you plant in it. It will return what you plant, but it doesn’t care what you plant.

Now let’s say that the farmer has two seeds in his hand. One is a seed of corn, the other is night shade, a deadly poison. He digs two little holes in the earth and he plants both seeds; one corn, the other night shade. He covers up the holes, waters and takes care of the land and what will happen?

Invariably, the land will return what is planted. As it is written in the Bible, “as you sow, so shall you reap.” Remember the land doesn’t care. It will return poison in just as wonderful abundance as it will corn. So up comes the two plants: one corn, one poison.”

Do you think your mind is more fertile than land? Do you think your mind works the same way? Does your mind care what you plant? 

What if you plant seeds of confusion, fear, anxiety? 

What if you plant seeds of success, worthwhile goals, and prosperity? Nightingale goes on to say,

“But what we plant it will return to us. You see, the human mind is the last great unexplored continent on the earth. It contains riches beyond our wildest dreams. It will return anything we want to plant.”

It is almost October, and what a beautiful time of year it is. From one of my favorite movies I think Anne of Green Gables sums it up best when she said, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” 

In late September and early October we transition from thinking about planting and growing to focus on harvest.

This October at Farm to Health Organics we are harvesting our hemp crop.  It’s an exciting time.  We have volunteers from a group called WWOOF coming from upstate New York, and Brazil and also professors and students from Iowa State University,  to help us harvest and share the experience together.

2020 has been a different kind of year, and in so many areas we didn’t get to “plant” what we have in the past.  We did however plant.  Are you spending more time at home with family?  What are you harvesting now from what you planted in quality time at home with loved ones?

Maybe you are not spending as much time in a car commuting. What are you harvesting now with what you did with the extra time and resources?  

Although Nightingale’s words have us contemplating the seeds we plant from now on, we are in the season of harvest and we should not let the seeds we planted go unharvested.

This is a great opportunity for gratitude don’t you think?  Can we spend some time today reflecting on what we have planted and what is now ready for us to harvest?

To everything there is a season and this season will soon pass and will progress to the next one. 

Join me as I stop, take a deep breath, think and reflect so this season doesn’t pass us by.