I admit that I am NOT a farmer. However, taking care of 75 acres of forest and fields brings its challenges like farm equipment that breaks down and needs repair. Yes, I am grateful and often humbled by this beautiful land. I look forward to the day when it will be used as an environmental learning center. But for now, I discovered the lawn mower wheel is flat, again, and the bush hog won’t rotate and cut the trails.
This is where I find the Holy Spirit working overtime in my life. I contact Jeff our local fire chief and tractor mechanic. He diagnosed a broken bolt on the bush hog and the need for an inner tube to fix the wheel.
So I drive to the Batavia John Deere store, and the service lady says, “sorry no tubes in stock.” But I need to cut the lawn today because it’s the first day in two weeks we have no rain and the lawn is somewhat dry, compared to soggy most of this Spring.
I meandered to the parts guy and he runs into the shoppe to ask a wise old curmudgeon, a senior parts guy who is grumbling and staring into his screen. My guy asks “what part does this guy (that’s me) need to repair his bush hog.”
Our curmudgeon is yelling to someone on the phone, “hang on I’m doing three things at once.” He looks at the diagram the parts guy found and says, “this is what you need.” Thank you George (the parts department guru) and your kind spirit to help this priest.
Now the parts guy heard me say, “there’s no inner tube.” He walks away and comes back with a bag in his hand. He throws it at the service lad and says, “this is the tube father needs to fix his tire.” Service cries, “I didn’t see it on the screen.” Parts guy says, “Trust me, this will work.” Thanks Pete and your spirit to help.
However, service lad says. “mechanics are on lunch and won’t be back till 2pm.” It’s noon. But he says you can go across the street and they repair tires and see if they have your inner tube. If not, come back and we will sell you this one.” Thanks Andy for your spirit to help.
So, I drive across the street, tell the manager my tire needs a tube and he says, “yes we got the tube but my mechanics are on lunch. However, he grabs the wheel and disappears. I hear sounds of air wooshing in the shoppe. Fifteen minutes later he returns with a smile and says, “what do you think of our service father, your tire is repaired.” Thank you Dick, and your spirit to help.
Now, I am back at the farm, The tire rod is up on a lift but I have no idea how to remove the lift. I contact Jeff and he says, “use the tractor and the bucket to lift the mower off the lift.” Like magic, the wheel is back on and with the help of the parts guys, he taught me how to insert the clip to keep the tire on the rim. Thank you both, Jeff and Pete for your spirit to help.
Back home, I’m standing over the bush hog searching where to insert the new bolt. I text Jeff the mechanic and he texts back, “look for PTO and gear box holes and line them up.” Well now I have backup, I asked my wife Sue for help and together we are able to line up the holes, insert the bolt but it won’t go through.
Jeff to the rescue texts, “just hit it with a hammer.” That’s the “male spirit” speaking. If it doesn’t fit, just pound it in. Instead, we gently rotate the PLO and the holes line up and the bolt goes through. I get out the racket set and start to screw the bolt and it slowly goes into both holes. On the other side I insert the nut and screw it tight but the racket doesn’t tighten the bolt. Text Jeff again, he has a racket extender but he is away for the weekend. This morning, I woke up thinking how I could tighten the bolt and the spirit said take the racket and use it to tighten the bolt, not the nut. Thank you spirit, worked like a charm.
Yes, the lawn mower tire is working fine and today when the trails were somewhat less soggy, I cut the trails. You might say that on Pentecost the Holy Spirit came down on the apostles. I believe and hope you agree it’s the spirt of our friends and neighbors and strangers who go out of their way, beyond the call of duty to make our life a bit easier and less stressful.
Thank you Lord, for the spirit of Pete, Jeff, George Andy, Ron, Jamie and Dick for each of you reflected the spirit of Christ’s compassion and love. Now back to work farmer Matt,
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who in their moment of need have family and friends who go out of their way to rescue them just as Jesus rescues us from our sins and fears and brings us the gift of eternal life. Perhaps, you might call or text and say thank you to those who gave you their spirit---a ride to the doctor’s office, shop for groceries, picked up your meds, or spent some time with a cup of tea to listen to your stories.
