Life Lessons from a Farm and a Zoo

This fall I have had the privilege of going along on two field trips with my kids. First was a field trip to the farm, where we learned all about the different crops grown and how they use those crops to make the products we use every day. Then was a trip to Potter Park Zoo, where a docent gave us all kinds of interesting facts about the animals we saw. Here are a few of the things I learned:

• You can make popcorn from the smaller ears of Indian corn.
• They make fabric out of corn.
• Tractors can run on fuel made from soybeans. (A possible solution to our gasoline problems?)
• There is a difference between sweet corn and field corn. The kernels on field corn are very hard and are ground into meal before being used.
• Owls can't really turn their heads all the way around. They can turn them 120 degrees, which is about 3/4 of the way around. This is because they have limited peripheral vision and can't move their eyes from side to side.
• Camels can drink up to 30 gallons of water in 15 minutes.
• A group of ostriches all lay their eggs in one nest and take turns tending to the eggs until they hatch.

I actually found both of these field trips to be very interesting and informative. Of course I loved hanging out with my boys, but I also learned a lot. (Maybe the show "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?" really does pose a good question, because these field trips were for first and third graders!)

More importantly though, I was reminded of how amazing our God truly is.

First of all, God filled the earth with all kinds of crops and vegetation to provide for His children. He has given us good food to eat: wheat, corn, and soybeans - as well as a variety of other fruits, vegetables and grains that are grown at other farms across the country. Not just one thing to eat constantly, but all different tastes so that we not only get sustenance from our food, but flavor, too. He loves us enough to provide for our needs and give us the added blessing of enjoyment.

Second, He has designed each of us to be uniquely equipped to fulfill His purpose for our lives. The most incredible example of this to me was the camel. He placed the camel in the desert, so He gave it everything it needs to flourish in the desert environment. It stores fat in its humps so there is a reserve that its body can use when food is not readily available. As it burns fat, a byproduct of that is water, which keeps it from becoming dehydrated. It is also able to drink large amounts of water and store that water in its body for a long period of time, so that when water is available it can drink, and that water can be stored for times when water is not available.

I simply cannot fathom the mind of God that knows each one of his creations so intimately, has a plan and purpose for each one, and has given each one the unique characteristics it needs. That goes for us, too. He knows everything about us, because He created us. He knows our needs before we even ask Him. And He has chosen the environment in which He has placed us for a plan and a purpose. I've been where it feels like the farm, and food and water are plentiful. But I've also felt like I was in the desert, dry and thirsty. The truth is, no matter where I am, I can trust Him to give me all that I need to sustain me.

If I have any encouragement for you, it would be this: if you are experiencing a time of plenty, where you feel well provided for and blessed with enjoyment, celebrate that and take the opportunity to grow and nourish your faith. The desert may lie ahead. If you already are in the desert, parched and weary, know that God will carry you through. He is all you need.