This is an excerpt from “Harbor Seven,” a book that shares some of the stories and lessons learned from my dad, and the journey of the last several years. I am convinced that one of the great weapons of the enemy is forgetfulness. Through some of my writing I have been determined to capture the stories and the lessons along the way. One of the most vivid memories of my dad comes from one of his lowest moments. I watched my dad deal with devastation and loss , yet I saw him retain his sense of humor, his faith, his calming presence, his quiet walks with God, even in the most difficult of times.
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It was hot and still. The clouds came quickly from the west. It was an ambush, the kind of storm that stirred up fear in the hearts of people on the plains for generations. For five minutes, the sky threw hail toward the ground like it was releasing an intense fit of rage. When the storm finally retreated, tens of thousands of dollars worth of corn was strewn about and shredded in the muddy fields of our farm, pulverized by the massive hailstorm.
Forty-five minutes later, my dad drove up the driveway in his olive green Ford pickup. Despite the devastating loss, he retained his sense of humor and calm demeanor, unchanging in his interactions with my mom and me.
Later that evening, I watched as he took a long, slow walk around the perimeter of his fields, which had been ruined by the hailstorm. Years later, one of his best friends told me that my dad was working things out with God while he was on that walk. He told God that if He wanted His tithe, He was going to have to come and get it because it was lying in the field. I will never forget the image of my father taking in the loss and surveying his wasted fields. I will never forget what it looks like when a balanced man has a bad day.
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Perhaps God is inviting you to join Him on a long, slow walk.
