Oh how awesome is the taste of a fresh Apple! The gleaning is such a blessing! I felt a bit like Ruth at the time of the Old Testament, as I walked through the harvested Apple plantation and joyfully took the leftover fruits.
We live at the moment in an idyllic village, in midst of vineyards and apple plantations. Recently was the day of harvest,all the grapes have been picked, and the apples have been harvested and gathered in huge boxes, ready to move for further processing. It is tradition here for the citizen to go, after the official harvest day, and gather the leftover fruits.
From my office I can see directly to the next vineyard, and at the day of harvest I curiously watched the harvesters doing their work. Although they were only a couple of women who worked through the whole vineyard, I was impressed of how fast they made progress. As I was watching them, the Lord reminded me on the scripture from Luke 10:2, where Jesus said: "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
About two weeks later, I was walking our dog through the empty plantations, I took a couple of very nice apples from one of the trees. But when I had a closer look around me, I was shocked! So many apples were laying in the grass beneath the trees. Many have started to rot away on the ground, some even were rotting while still on the tree. Unnumbered Fruits have been left or overlooked. My heart broke and I cried out, still on the plantations, "Lord! Send your workers in the harvest! Send them into your harvest oh Lord!"
How often are people without hope, without assurance and without a smile in their face? How often are people without love, in despair and with a cry for help in their hearts? "See, the fields are ripe," the Lord says "But whom shall I send?" The harvest will be lost. The fruits will rot at the tree. The lost will still remain lost.
It doesn't need much. If only you are available to the Lord and say to him: "Here I am, ready to go into the harvest! Lead me however you like." Then the Lord of the harvest can save much more from the precious fruits of His harvest.
God created you in wonderful uniqueness. You are a tool in His hands like no other, and you can help to bring in this delightful harvest! |
