My Uncle Randy was a staunch Methodist. They attended church every Sunday and were leaders in the congregation, taking on various jobs in the church over the years. There was one exception to the every Sunday pattern: harvest. They were dry land wheat farmers in northern Montana and thee always was a lot riding on harvest. They operated older, used equipment and breakdowns were always a threat. Weather could make or break a harvest. The wheat, vulnerable to hail and high wind all through its growing cycle, was especially vulnerable once it was headed out and the moisture content was right for cutting. They usually took on one or two extra hired hands for harvest and everybody pitched in. I worked the harvest two years when I was a teenager and I remember the pace of that time.

Much of July was about preparing. The combine was started up and gone through. Every belt and hose was inspected. Every fitting was greased. The engine was started and all of the various controls exercised. Then the oil was changed and the fuel tank filled. The trucks were prepared as well, usually with an oil change and a check of everything. Parts like teeth for sickles, various belts and other items were loaded onto the service truck along with grease guns, fuel pumps and other items. Evenings, after supper, were spent inspecting the fields. We’d walk out into the field, remove a few heads from the stalks and roll them in our hands to remove the chaff. The kernels were inspected, and often chewed to make sure that everything was right.

Then, when Uncle Randy said so, we’d move into high gear. The combine would be moved to the first field and a test cout would be made. The grain would be checked for moisture content and everything put into place. Once we started cutting, only the weather would stop the process. We’d rise at 5:30 and have a big breakfast. We were waiting for the sun to dry any dew before we’d start things up. If we’d drained oil from a hot machine the night before, we would put the drain plug back in and carefully top it with oil. Oil was checked in every machine, always parked in the summer fallow field just incase of a stubble fire. The combines would make a few rounds before they needed to empty into the trucks, so we’d check out the trucks after the combines were in motion. Then the rhythm of the signal from the combine, driving close to receive the grain, making sure the truck was evenly loaded, and using a grain scoop if it needed to be shifted. When the truck was full, we’d head to the granary to dump and run the elevator to the bin while the other truck was field shuttling. We’d return as soon as possible and begin the dance with the combines again.

At lunch, the combine operators ate while we greased their machines, then we ate while they started back to the field. Both lunch and dinner were brought to us in the field - enormous meals with lots of homemade bread, hot meat, potatoes and delicious desserts. Usually the cool of the evening would have us shutting down at about dark and when everything was unloaded and parked we’d head back for a quick shower before bed. The next day repeated. And it continued for as many days as it took to finish.

When harvest was done, there were usually a couple of bonus days. We’d go to the state fair if we got done in time, or perhaps to the lake for a little swimming and water skiing. After harvest it was usually time for me to clear out of the bunkhouse and head for home for the start of school.

I think of the pace of the harvest when I hit busy streaks at work. I know all of the studies about time off and rest and relaxation. I’ve read the commandments carefully and know that Sabbath rest is a commandment for everyone - including me. I understand the need for recreation and restoration. But I never say “no” to a funeral. And there are occasions in the lives of the people I serve that demand flexibility on my part.

It’s been quite a run at the church since Holy Week. Holy Week is sort of our harvest. We do services every day and there are long hours of preparing worship bulletins, moving furniture, preparing spaces, practicing music, writing liturgy, studying scriptures all on top of our regular work. Most years we get a bit of a break in the week after Easter, but we’ve got big things going in our church. Today is a very important congregational meeting with the largest capital funds drive in the history of the church being proposed. In order to make this meeting possible a lot of behind the scenes work had to be done.

there have also been some very unusual occurrences since easter. We had a week when there were two funerals on the same day. We’ve had a couple of funerals for people who weren’t connected with our church. It’s always harder to conduct a funeral for someone you don’t know well. It takes extra visits to get to know the family and understand their needs. And each funeral means follow-up calls and visits that need to be added to the schedule. Monday is usually my day off, and I did get the Monday after Easter off, but there have been work items on each Monday since.

I’ve been feeling like I’m working harvest. You just get up each morning and tell yourself that you’ve got to keep going. And you do. But I am not superman and I am not exempt from the commandments - not even the Sabbath commandment. So I’ve needed to be creative with my schedule. I have rearranged all of my appointments and meetings for this coming Thursday and others at the church will cover for me so I can take a day off. Now I need to get through today and the committal tomorrow and the usual events of Tuesday and Wednesday.

Having worked harvest is a pretty good preparation for the life of a pastor.

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