Where Was I Looking?

                 I Was Looking at Too Much

                As winter rapidly approaches, I have been thankful for a good hay season. Yet those summer days of hay moving presented a "standard” crisis for me.

                After a fashion, I taught myself how to stack round bales about two years ago. My brother-in-law did give me a few pointers. My number one guide was the single spike on Dad’s old pickup. When I turned my head around and centered that spike in the center of bale, I was almost guaranteed of stacking each bale with the rest in a pretty organized way.

                This summer as I moved hay out of the field, I used the “grid” of the back window of the pickup so graciously loaned by Vonda and Greg Goad for our use. Who knows why I choose to use the “grid” of the pickup’s back window? To compound my dilemma, I was looking through the truck's headache rack, too. The numerous vertical and horizontal aspects of the window grid and the headache rack were so much more complicated than focusing on the single spike of Dad's old winch. In consternation, I questioned why the rows of bales were not as uniformed as other times.

A glimpse of the back window and the headache
rack as I looked back to spike large bales.

                Suddenly, the realization of looking at the wrong “standard” explained the problem. I began focusing exclusively on the two spikes of the hydraulic hay lift as my sole directives while I backed up to load a bale. Then the bale rows began straightening up almost as if by magic. Not only did the rows of bales improve in appearance but the task became easier.

                As I moved the final bales out of the meadow, I reflected on life. Living life demands standards. Every person has a code that guides decisions, relationships, and worship. Humans worship something or someone. If a person says they worship nothing, usually the person engages in self-worship.

                The code or standards can be set by acquaintances or friends, a religious organization, an organization to whom one pledges loyalty, or an eclectic approach. The eclectic approach has gained popularity since one can pick and choose to accept or reject the tenets to embrace and believe. This eclectic style for selecting a code of life often leans heavily on social media, never questioning the validity of the source of this “truth." This mix-and-match approach readily modifies on a whim - whenever the situation calls for it.

                The eclectic method resembles my use of the back-window grid of the pickup and headache rack as a conglomerate guide for picking up a bale of hay. In frustation, I questioned why this task seemed so difficult? I had tried to center each bale in line with the apparent central section of the window. Yet no attempt resulted in spiking a bale from the meadow in a perfect spot.

               But when I focused entirely on the two spikes as my guide, I found success. I had eliminated from my mental concentration all the other distractions. The headache rack and window grid were still there but I chose to converge my visual acuity on the two spikes alone. The two spikes reminded me of the perfect guide of God’s Word and His Holy Spirit.

The stalwart two spikes at the back of
the bed that proved to be perfect
guides for loading accurately -centered
large bales.

The psalmist, David, wrote in the longest chapter of the Bible, Psalm 119, in verses 5 and 6:

Oh that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!

Then I would not be ashamed when I learn Your righteous judgments.

God’s Word will guide our actions if we read it regularly and obey unwaveringly what we read.

                After the last supper, Jesus told his disciples the Holy Spirit would come and “He will guide you into all truth.” Later in Jesus’s final prayer recorded, He prayed, “Your Word is truth.” Jesus bound the two necessary guides - the Holy Spirit (His very spirit) and the Word of God - together in His last few exchanges prior to His arrest in the garden.

                Finally, The Apostle Paul wrote to the Roman Christians about following the Holy Spirit and what it reveals. Romans 8:14 states:

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

Only willing obedience to God’s standards, as revealed in His Word, can result in being led by the Spirit of God. Nothing else can bring peace, order and a comforting sense of His presence like the two guides – His Word and His Spirit.

The Puny Tomato Plant

            Even though I planted late, all twelve tomato plants survived. Two more plants were given by our dear neighbor, Hubert Hutchens. Hube had grown his plants from seeds he planted indoors during late winter.

Most of the latter summer days, those plants provided slices of bright red, tasty tomatoes. One of the Celebrity tomato plants drew the lot of being planted in the narrow west bed, one of the least productive areas of the beds used by my grandma for her flowers. (To understand the background of my tomato planting narrative, go to https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-broken-limb-of-tomato-plant.html or https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2016/11/give-us-this-day-our-daily-tomato.html.) These are a couple of the numerous writings I have posted on my journey as a tomato gardener.)

            Of course, the tomato plant in that section appears puny. It has yielded no tomatoes even though I have faithfully put our “compost” of pulverized eggshells, coffee grounds, and chopped-up banana peelings on it just like the others.

Recently when the freeze was predicted, I questioned whether to protect the puny tomato. After vacillating about what to do, I noticed a miniscule yellow blossom. My decision was made. I grabbed a trash bag, furled it open and turned it upside down to cover the unproductive plant. As I bent down to securely tie the bag’s ties around the sturdy stem of the plant, I thought Little Plant, I am giving you a chance to produce           

What a surprise to find two little yellow blossoms the next morning! Time and weather will determine the outcome for the puny tomato’s productiveness. 

           As I cared for this weakest of the tomato plants, I thought of Paul’s writings to the church of Corinth in the first century, A.D. He wrote in I Corinthians 1:27, 29, 31:

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

…No flesh should glory in His presence.

He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.

            How like the puny tomato plant we are in this world! Most of the time, I feel weak in innumerable ways - courage to face trials, physical strength to do what needs to be done, emotional stability to persevere, boldness to speak for the Lord, and faith to obey and not waver.

 Just as I provided water during dry stretches, put out our “compost” nourishment, tilled around the spindly plant and even covered it in preparation for the cold night, so God provides for us. He alone gives us life, breath, strength, opportunities for service, wisdom, protection and direction during dark seasons. Most importantly, only He provides salvation through His Son, Jesus.

As we recognize our innate weakness, we should immediately respond to His strength ready to work in our daily lives. Then when moment by moment, He empowers us to do what we could never do in our own finite power, may we give praise to Him. He alone is worthy of the honor and glory.

Benders Are Still Shining at the Tulsa State Fair

Josie receiving
recognition as the 4-H
  Individual State
 Champion in Livestock
 Judging

We are celebrating our Benders’ performance at the 2019 Tulsa State Fair this week. Josie and Landee Doshier live not far from Mother’s farm with their parents, Scott and Shelly Bledsoe Doshier. Their grandparents, Bill and Delores Ratliff Bledsoe, live in the southwest area of the Bend. The girls are the sixth generation of their family residing in the Bend.

Landee showing her showmanship skill.

          Josie competed on a 4-H Livestock Judging Team and won 4-H Individual State Champion. Landee placed 6^th in state in her division of Swine Showmanship with Josie placing 3^rd place in her division of Swine Showmanship. The whole Bend is proud of your accomplishments, Josie and Landee!

          Another highlight of this year’s Tulsa State Fair involved Kenny Endl. I taught Kenny in 3^rd grade the last year I taught prior to my retirement. Mother and I attend church each week with him. Kenny showed Asher, his Dexter bull, at the Tulsa State Fair. Asher garnered Grand Champion Dexter Bull for Kenny. Way to Go, Kenny!

          Kenny lives southwest of Ralston. Even though Kenny isn’t a Bender, his great great grandparents, Charles, Sr. and Ethel Beaston ventured regularly to our farm for eggs when I was a kid.

Kenny Receiving Congratulations on Asher being
recognized as the Grand Champion Dexter Bull.

After these students performed so well, I decided to revise and republish a 2015 blog post of Mother's recollection of her time as a preschooler at the Tulsa State Fair in 1930.

 During the first half of the 20^th century, the Big Bend was comprised of two communities and school districts. Belford School had the smaller school population while Woodland, on the western side of the Big Bend, “always had more kids” according to my mother, Bernyce Smith Gates. It is almost unfathomable to realize that Belford at its zenith had around 80 students, with Woodland boasting a student body of around 100. In a rough calculation, I figure that the Big Bend’s population exceeded 200 easily in the late 1920s and early 1930s!

             My mother and her parents lived on the east side of the Bend – Belford community. They lived in the "new" house on property owned by the ancestors of Lisa White Crabtree, another of our cherished neighbors. Mother recounted some experiences at the "new" house in the blog post at:https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2017/03/fleas-and-friendship.html   (An interesting blog posting discusses the "little" house at the site, the first house my mother remembers. To access the blog post go to https://bernadeanjgates.blogspot.com/2014/07/miracles-at-little-house.html)

            My grandmother relished being active in the community and getting as many others involved as possible. She prided herself on producing the best of the best in anything she attempted. Most of the time, my grandfather supported her - although sometimes begrudgingly since she was a workaholic and an overachiever.

 In the late summer of 1930, my grandparents took the Belford Agriculture Display to the Osage County Free Fair. The display exhibited various grains and crops grown at that time in the Big Bend. Grandma had the vision of how it should look, and Grandpa helped her make it a reality. The Belford display won first place, so my grandparents with my mother, aged 5 (almost 6), in tow, packed and headed to the Tulsa State Fair.

As Mother told about Fred Ahrberg, I thought
of our Extension Educator for Osage County
and/Pawnee County, Rick Clovis. He joined our
family when he married Barbara Clark Gates.

           The Osage County Extension agent, Fred Ahrberg, assisted my grandparents, Calvin Callcayah and Gladys Vivian Rainey Smith, in preparing for their state display. Mother recalls that Mr. Ahrberg located a mechanical attention-getting doll to create even more interest in the Belford Agriculture Display. The little mechanical professor who moved his teaching pointer served as an eye-catching prop, attracting state fair goers.

This photograph was in the 1931 Osage County Free Fair program that Grandma
had saved in her keepsake box. This display had won in 1930.  As Dad would say,
 "Benders can compete with the best of them."

                

                             

            Mother did an obligatory displays walk-through. Grandma always valued learning so I am sure she encouraged my mother to learn as much as she could from the innovative booths. Mother zipped through the county displays in the building where the Osage County booth was. She was a bored little girl and looking for some action!

When quizzing Mother about her attendance at the Tulsa State Fair 89 years ago, the subject of livestock entries came up. Her reply to me indicated a low interest level in this area of the fair. Her exact quote at aged 94, “You’ve seen one cow, you’ve seen them all. I could see cows all day long when I was back home.”

Her keen interest was sparked by the midway rides. To my amazement, she rode all the rides, except the ferris wheel, by herself! Recently, we heard a report on the noon news from a Tulsa television station that a wristband could be purchased for $70 that would enable children to have unlimited rides on all midway rides (except the extreme ones and the Sky Ride) for the entire eleven days of the 2019 Tulsa State Fair. With her dry sense of humor, she exclaimed, “I would have been a Dizzy Lizzy because I would have ridden those rides all day long!”

My independent mother at age 5 (almost 6) rode as many rides as she could or as frequently as she could get the nickel or dime. In 1930, each ride was paid for individually. Less than one year after the stock market crash of 1929, the nickel and dime were hard to come by from her parents. She admits that she probably rode more rides than most kids that year because she was an only child.

In our present day, when a child is old enough to comprehend who a stranger is, the concept of “Stranger Danger” is drilled into each little one’s mind! Yet my mother ran around the midway willy nilly, riding the rides at her own discretion by herself, while her parents manned the Osage County booth. What a different world we live in!

Mother even admitted to getting lost frequently on the fair grounds. She indicated, in that era, only rich families feared kidnapping and glibly spouted, “We were so poor that my getting kidnapped wasn’t a worry.” Very seldom was it heard that sexual predators kidnapped children. To return to her parents, she would merely ask an adult or those who operated the rides to direct her to the “building with the booths” and she would calmly meander back.

It was such a different day and time. Mother said they slept on pallets right there in the pavilion where the award-winning booth was. The only fair food Mother remembered was the pink cotton candy. Her mother provided their food while there, primarily sandwiches. No fried-whatever-on-a-stick for them!

Often people ask about my mother's condition, at almost aged 95. She continues to rule the kitchen, insisting on preparing breakfast, lunch, and supper.

 Mother's mind remains more inquisitive and thirstier for knowledge than most people I know, no matter their ages. She continues to memorize chunks of God’s Word. (In my opinion, her commitment to memorization of scripture has contributed to her healthy mind. Plus she laughs a lot.)  God has graciously blessed us with her. 

Happy 95th Birthday to Mother on October 17th.

The Misidentified Feline

The pink house on Big Bend Road, only has farm cats. After the death of Tailer and the disappearance of Bob, the two bottle-fed kittens we raised, Mother and I covenanted with each other to revert to outdoor-dwelling, farm cats only.

The brindled mama cat had two kittens in the spring -  a solid black kitten and a gray and white kitten. The little gray and white kitten’s “personality” soon emerged. I misidentified the kitten as a female, naming the kitten “Princess.” The gentleness and insistence on interacting with me led to the feline inching its way into a relationship with people. 

Then a few months later, I discovered my mistake. I considered myself in good company in my error. In Doc Henry’s book, Just So You’ll Know, the renowned veterinarian and proud graduate of Ralston High School related of a young grandchild correctly noting the assumed female cat patient had “two buttons” putting a stop to the spaying procedure. If Dr. Raymond Henry could make a mistake like that, I told myself I would put myself in company like that any day.

The name tag “Princess” was changed to “Little P” a shortened version of "Little Prince." His disposition remains the same. He bounds to meet me as soon as I emerge from the back door. He climbs on Dad’s small toolbox to watch me open the wooden box made by Grandpa Calvin Callcayah Smith that serves as a container to secure the cat food. Whether watering or gathering tomatoes, hanging laundry on the clothesline, or just about any outdoor task, Little P acts as if he wishes he had thumbs to help.
The gray and white cat never shies away from looking right in my eyes. Little P enjoys being held whether on his back or the “bad kitty carry” or cuddled close. (Bob, the orange and white Manx cat, would "tolerate" me holding him about 45 seconds, even though he had been bottle-fed by us. Mother said he would look around and squirm a tiny bit as if to say, "Bernadean, that's enough. Let me down.") Not this 2019 farm cat - he loves those who care for him.

           Little P reminds me of David who withstood all kinds of difficulties because he delighted in his relationship with the Lord. In Psalm 73:28, he penned:

But I’m in the very presence of God – oh, how refreshing it is! I’ve made Lord God my home. God, I’m telling the world what You do! The Message

James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote to the believers in his letter. In chapter 4, verse 8, the admonition is stated:

Come close to God and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

The young tom cat knows if he approaches me, I will respond to him. God is much the same way. When Little P hears even the slight jangle of the gate closure as I return from the pasture, without even hearing my voice, he rushes to me.
 Just as the sweet cat enjoys spending time with his person, the most perfect relationship with God is that of a believer who knows nothing better than time with Him – whether in Bible study, prayer, meditation, or going throughout the day in an attitude of awareness of His presence prompting obedience. May this prayer redirect us this week.

Lord, You alone know my heart delights to be in Your presence. Make me aware of You even when trials, incidental troubles, and disappointment creep stealthily into my day. Instead of yielding to the discouragement tugging down my spirit, enable me to rely on You, my unchanging God, for strength. Moment by moment, “give me grace to trust You more.”