I would like to introduce this poem for the sake or those who may not be familiar with farming.  A term that is often found in the Scripture is 'fallow' ground.  It is not used so much today where modern farming methods are so prevelant, but there was a time when soil that was used over and over would have to be left to 'fallow' for several years until the nutrients would be restored by natural processes.  After an appropriate amount of time, the land was ready to be planted again and it is a waste to a farmer to allow good farm land to go unused. The reference to Hosea in this poem uses the fallow ground as a metaphor for the comfortable but  unproductive life.   I hope my fellow poets here at Word Chimes will enjoy and profit from this poem.

The Point of the Plow

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love;

break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD,

that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

Hosea 10:12

A field was left to fallow and in time it came to be

a lovely place of quietness and peace

with saplings growing midst the many flowers all around

and gentle grass the ground could now release

Across the way there lay a very different piece of ground

but here the soil was furrowed long and straight

the plow had dug so deep beneath the surface of the land

so seeds of grain it could accommodate

If these two fields should illustrate a Christians' view of life

a lesson we could learn from what we see

for although we would like the comfort of the fallow land

the field that knows the plow would set us free

The seeming pleasure of the fallow field, our mind, deceives

telling us that comfort we must feel

but what we learn from land that knows the meaning of the plow

is Truth that lets us see a life that's real

Take care to understand this message God has for His Church

for we have been complacent far too long

basking in the temporary things of fallow life

'till those without the Lord think we belong

But God would have us to yield unto the sharp point of the plow

watching as He bears our sin of pride

then the soil of our lives will bear fruit that pleases God

for now we, unto sinful self, have died

David L  Vanderpool

(Inspired by a message from Weston Leibee of Ephrata Ministries

called 'The Uncomfortable Life')