2011, not a new decade.

I feel like, as we roll into 2011, we're beginning a new decade. I don't know why I think that... clearly last year we started a new decade. I suppose it seems that way because of all the new direction that is driving my life. Last year was a year of endings, it felt like. I ended my job with the Beaufort County School District. I ended my senseless working for money, instead of working for God, doing what He has sent me to do. I ended being afraid, although it is a constant battle. Maybe I just ended losing the battle to fear.

This year, though, is a year of beginnings. I have already begun placing my trust in Him, in His sovereignty, and in His provision. This year I begin in earnest as a farmer. There are some really excellent parallels between farming the earth and spiritual matters. First, there is the the entire farming metaphor- you put healthy inputs into the earth, you plant seeds, you tend them, and great fruit develops which can then be harvested. On a spiritual level, you nurture other people, help them know God and develop their relationship with Him, and then He "harvests" them as His own.

Important, indeed. I can't forget that God created the earth for us, for me. When I am out, working in the dirt, working the dirt, I can sense God in a more direct way. I've always seen God in nature- so much beauty must have a beautiful creator; I'm ecstatic to spend 2011 experiencing Him in His creation, working as a co-creator of sorts, albeit on a much more base level.

In pure reality, unaffected by societal pressure or coercion, 2011 is all about surrender. We can maintain a clean conscience because we are surrendered to God. Freedom comes not from following our own desires, nor from denial, nor from the perfection of the self, but from God and God alone. Freedom from our vanity, pride, perfectionism' guilt. Guess what- that freedom that only comes from God enables us to be greater than we ever could by ourselves, and we may not make any fewer mistakes.

Here's to you, in 2011. The new year is a time to refocus and begin with a clean slate, and that is a beautiful thing, full of hope and promise.

A blessed new year...for the chickens

David and I were so excited on Friday when we were able to finally move the chickens to their new home...outdoors.  We worked feverishly for three days (by days I mean from about 10am to nightfall).  I definitely didn't think that it was going to take us that long, but we were constantly having to use our noggins to figure out the best solutions for the constant problems that we faced and we were constantly realizing that we didn't have the right tools for the fixes that we needed.  Our most frustrating/annoying part of the whole project was attaching the hardware cloth to the 2x2's that we used to create the run.  Towards the end we said, "forget it!  let's just use cable ties".  Neither one of us has much experience with construction or what chickens need, so all-in-all, I think that our semi-finished product is pretty darn good.  At least we know that chickens don't have much a brain, so they won't go on strike if their nesting boxes aren't exactly 6 inches off the ground.    Now that they are in their coop, I am realizing how low-maintenance they really are.  The food and water hangs off the ground now, so I don't have to clean poop out of the water every morning and afternoon.  Yipeeee!  I don't think that enthusiasm was quite enough to capture my joy.  Let me give it one more try HOOOORAAAAA!!!!!!!!  There, I think that does it.  Now all there is left to do is wait.  Eventually, they will lay their first egg and all the struggle will be worth it!  Videos and photos to come soon.

Until next harvest.