Farmers, the Great Gatherers!

It's that time of year when the harvest is rich and full. The brown cornstalks stand tall reaching to the heavens as the ears of corn point downward toward Mother. Soybeans are a wheat color as they offer their final product as a gift to the community. 
With the sky a vivid blue dotted with white puffy clouds, Grandfather Sun brightly shines his bright yellow rays to warm the cool temps of Autumn. It is a welcome sight to those of us fortunate enough to live in the rural lands of the Midwest. At least those of us that live in such areas feel very fortunate to experience the richness of the farmlands.
Shiny silos are buzzing with giant tractors pulling massive size wagons of the gifts gathered from the Earth. The sounds of the grain dryers provide a constant hum as the Farmers hurriedly work the land while the weather supports the Gathering. Semi-trailers are lined up ready to receive the dried goods to carry to market.
Reminds me of the tremendous gifts received when dedicated people focus on the task at hand and stay the course so the community can be fed. Next time you go to the grocery store, consider the hands that planted, gathered, canned, froze, packaged, hauled and stocked the goods you see on the shelf. Consider all the effort and commitment required to bring that food to the shelves. You might send a quick prayer or whisper of gratitude to the human beings who brought these goods to your grocery, including the grocer and his/her employees. And while you're at it, include the land and soil of "mother earth" and the rain and warmth provided by "father sky." Above all, send much love and gratitude to the Gatherers of these goods, the Farmers! All of our lives are dependent on the collaborative efforts of all beings on earth to sustain us!