Category: Faith

Children, Choices, Community, Faith, Gratitude, Serenity, Simplicity, The Holidays, Thoughts From the Porch, Wellness

Almost Christmas…

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Here it is the middle of December, and I can’t quite remember when my last post was. Much has transpired since then – Margaret has had her neck surgery and after a two week stay in a rehabilitation facility, is finally home for the holidays. She’s well on her way to recovery. I missed having her here with me. I missed feeling her presence even when I’m out in the yard or at my desk and she’s in another room. There’s something calming about being able to walk into the living room and see the love of my life. I’m truly blessed by her presence and love.

My step kid moved out at the end of November. It wasn’t the most amicable situation, but Margaret and I know it was best for all concerned. I’ve come home to happy puppies (okay, more big dogs than puppies) each day. The atmosphere of peace has returned to my home after several years of feeling like I was walking on eggshells, never knowing when a simple remark might be taken as major trauma. You can’t argue with someone else’s perception of reality, no matter what reality might be. I just look at both MAGA acolytes and those on the far left to see how flawed perceptions deepen the divide between us all. (to be continued)

Autumn, Community, Donations, Down On the Farm, Faith, Family, Fighting Poverty, Food Equality, Food Insecurity, Food Justice, Gifts, Gratitude, Love, Neighbors, Opal's Farm, Prayer, Quotes, Relationships, Seeing Others, Service to Others, Social Justice, Spirituality, Thanksgiving, The Holidays, Thoughts From the Porch, Unity Unlimited, Inc., Urban Farming, What Can I Do

Happy Thanksgiving! Let’s Make Thanks a Verb!

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I would love to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Opal’s Farm. We are so grateful for our friends and family. We’ve been blessed with so many wonderful donors, volunteers, and supporters from all over Fort Worth and beyond that fill our days with joy and purpose. We love you all and hope that you are enjoying a day filled with family, friends, and food.

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Please remember your neighbors that aren’t able to have the same blessings. Reach out and call someone who may be spending Thanksgiving alone. Offer your homes and offer your companionship. Offer your table. We know for a fact that food brings everyone together in love and unity.

Please remember that not everyone will be enjoying a Thanksgiving meal today. Opal’s Farm wants to help end food insecurity in Fort Worth and insure that each of our neighbors can share a Thanksgiving meal. Please consider helping us help others through a donation today or on World Giving Day this Tuesday, December 3rd. Come be a part and share your blessing with everyone!

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seed you plant.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

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Just An Update

gregoryjoel

Greetings to you all. I haven’t written much this month. I’m still trying to process the Election night results. I had thought people might’ve grown tired of the circus that is forty-five and now forty-seven-elect. I’ll leave that to the pundits to deal with. The farm doesn’t much care about politics. It just keeps on being Opal’s Farm – food grows, people are fed, and life goes on.

Things have just been incredibly nuts at the farm (in a good way mind you). Every time I think its’s going to slow down the “to do” list gets longer. We are having bumper crops this Fall, and the weather has been absolutely wonderful, making me somewhat sad when the day is over. It’s just too nice not to be working.

We held the Second Annual High Strides Against Diabetes 5K and Fun Run and the after-party last Saturday. We had such a great time with awesome food and fun. Next year, the race will be held in Dallas at Joppy Momma’s Farm. We alternate years for the race. Kim High, the Founder and Farm Manager for Joppy Momma’s has a great team that did so much to make this a successful event. I, on the other hand, should not have Event Planner on my resume. This was so much work! Thank you Kim, Joppy Momma’s, and all the folks from Dallas who worked so hard to put this together. It’s already time to start planning for next year!

We had a special luncheon at the farm with our friends from Houston, the Black United Fund, Inc. this Saturday. We discussed ways we can continue to grow and empower our communities to grow all over this great state. We believe in taking care of each other and building our communities through the medium of good healthy food that we all need so desperately. It was a honor and a privilege to host the event and we’re looking forward to our future collaboration.

The biggest thing going on at the farm right now though is the amazing amount of fresh produce we’re growing this Fall. We’re experiencing record yields and beautiful, fresh wholesome produce. We’d love to see you at either Cowtown Farmers Market or at Opal’s Farm Stand (at the entrance to the farm) every Saturday morning, rain or shine, from 8 AM until Noon. We accept SNAP-EBT benefits at both locations and be sure to look for our weekly specials.

We’d love to see you at the farm. Volunteers are always welcomed and appreciated. We’d never have the success Opal’s Farm has seen if it weren’t for all the volunteers who have helped us grow over the last six years. We’d love to have you come out, get your hands dirty , and enjoy the great Fall days with us.

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I Voted

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It’s a grey, yet glorious, Sunday morning. A gentle soaking rain started awhile ago and the dripping from the roof is a constant reminder of the gratitude I have today. I’m grateful for the rain that allows me to sit here and write rather than be at the farm irrigating (it’s been an unusually dry October). I’m grateful for the quiet of the house (I’m the only one awake). I’m grateful for the coffee that seems to be extra tasty this morning. I’m grateful for my four dogs who are all curled up and sleeping around my feet as I write this even if I can’t get up for more coffee without disturbing them. Life is just pretty darn good…

I’m truly thankful that the election is only two days away and the constant barrage of negative political ads will cease. I’m worn out simply watching the weather before I go to bed. Through much of this campaign season I’ve chosen to disconnect (not completely mind you) from the unceasing bombardment of campaign coverage, put on some great music, and get on with the day. I took advantage of early voting here in Texas and plan to offer rides to the polls on Tuesday for those that can’t drive.

I struggled with voting several years ago. As my relationship with God began to deepen, I began to realize that my true sovereign was the God of my understanding; that my citizenship likes in the Kingdom of God rather than my country of birth. If this is the case, my civic responsibility is somewhat different. I had become increasingly cynical of the electoral process anyway so maybe I should refuse to participate in the politics of empire. After all, many early Christians refused to acknowledge Ceasar as God, often with severe consequences.

My questions were answered when it occurred to me that I don’t vote for myself or my personal beliefs. I vote for others. I vote for the voiceless to give them a voice – the immigrants who are often left in the shadows. I vote for the powerless and the marginalized. I vote for all of those that fought for the opportunity to vote and to have a seat at the table. I vote for the common good. It’s not about class, color, religious beliefs, or party. What benefits the “least of these”?

That makes me responsible for going to vote. That makes us responsible for voting. I’m not going to tell anyone who to vote for a specific individual or party, but I am going to ask that we all take a moment to ask ourselves what benefits the common good; not what benefits only “me”. What is consistent with the values we claim to possess? In other words, I’m asking to look beyond our individual selfishness and seek people and policies that build our common community and unify our brutally broken population.

I don’t know what’s going to happen this Tuesday, but I do know this: I’m hopeful that we can begin to overcome the petty nonsense that divides us and return to some degree of sanity in our communal civic life. That may seem naïve to most these days, but my faith dictates that I constantly seek the best in others and act accordingly. I voted Friday and I hope you do too on Tuesday.

Photo by Element5 Digital on Pexels.com

“Faith in God is not just faith to believe in spiritual ideas. It’s to have confidence in Love itself. It’s to have confidence in reality itself. At its core, reality is okay. God is in it. God is revealed in all things, even through the tragic and sad, as the revolutionary doctrine of the cross reveals!”
—Richard Rohr, Essential Teachings on Love