When our foundation shifts
I signaled for Farmer Bob to shift the trailer a little to the left. Perched on a load of hay stacked six layers high, I pointed in the direction the trailer needed to go to avoid hitting trees, equipment, or the walls of the hay shed. The load was so large, my husband couldn’t see the entrance to the building in which he planned to park the trailer. Thus, I was far from the ground, on top of the hay, moving backward to check the trailer’s proximity to the building and forward to update my directions.
My husband was an excellent backer, but even he struggled to back an enormous load of hay into a building he couldn’t see (although he could–it just took longer). We had used this method safely and successfully for many years to store the hay until it could be unloaded.
Safely . . . until this time.
As Farmer Bob aligned the load to slip into the narrow entrance to the shed, a tarp we had covering the doorway became entangled in the top of the load. Not wanting to tear the tarp, I moved to the front of the trailer to lift the tarp free of the hay.
My foundation shifted.
Although our loads are almost always stable–this day it was not. As I reached and grasped the tarp, the bale of hay on which I stood, shifted, causing several bales to fall. Those happened to be the ones where I stood. I had a grip on the tarp, but it wasn’t strong enough to hold me. The tarp I was trying to protect, tore, and dumped me toward the ground. Down I tumbled, feet first, amidst half a dozen rolling bales.
I probably would have been fine except the back of my head slammed into the metal tongue of the trailer. Thankfully, my husband heard my cry, saw me fall, and stopped the tractor. Dazed, I rolled away from the trailer, thankful to be alive. I sprawled, face down, dizzy, but grateful to feel the firmness of the earth. I gingerly explored the back of my head–my hands came away bloody.
This accident happened several years ago.
We just recently completed this year’s fall hay harvest. On our farm, we use smaller bales, not the giant round ones more suitable for larger ranches and farms. I handle feeding our horses and need to be able to lift the bales and transport with a wheelbarrow.
These smaller bales are typically called “square” bales. I’ve never understood that label, since the bales are clearly rectangular in shape. However, I do concede that when observed from the end, the bales display a square. These rectangular bundles of hay most often stack efficiently on a large trailer. Usually, we’ll have anywhere from 100 to 130 bales in a load. When the bales are firm and well-stacked, the hay is very stable. We seldom tie on the load while travelling the several miles from the hayfield to our house.
As we stored this year’s harvest in the shed built by Farmer Bob, my thoughts returned to the day of my fall. I’m reminded that even as we think our foundation is stable, it can shift with no warning. We may lose our job, experience a tragedy, a loved one may die, or we may develop a chronic illness. There are many situations that cause a sudden shift in our earthly foundation.
But . . . there is one foundation we can always depend on.
So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. (Isaiah 28:16)
I received a concussion from my fall from the hay trailer. The gash was patched. I suffered several weeks of concussion symptoms (headaches, nausea, sensitivity to light, fatigue), but I recovered from my physical injuries.
My accident was caused by a shifting of what I thought was a safe foundation for me to stand. I am thankful that my Lord doesn’t shift, His love is forever. If we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, our foundation is firm. Our Savior’s foundation is always safe, trustworthy, and dependable.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)
Our foundation in Christ isn’t an accident. It’s a choice. I pray you will choose the safe, stable, and forever dependable foundation our Lord provides.
I welcome your thoughts. Do you have memories of when your foundation may have shifted?
Katherine, I’m so glad you were protected in your fall. I think for me I don’t know I am trusting a false foundation until it shifts. Be it health, a relationship, or a role. Those quakes in life help me put both feet back on my rock—Jesus.
You expressed it so well, Debbie. I have the same problem. I believe I’m on the right trail, traveling safely on the path of Jesus, my feet firmly on His foundation and then . . . I stumble and realize I’ve been sidetracked without even noticing. Usually it is because I’ve taken my eyes off my Lord, gotten complacent in my Bible study, and slack in my time with God. I like your term, “quakes”. It sounds like a more gentle reminder (hopefully) than a tumble off a trailer. Wishing you continued blessings in your ministry, Debbie.
Grateful you were seen and the tractor stopped! I am all for object lessons but painful ones I struggle with God over receiving. For me the most dangerous foundational shifts were ones that happened slowly. You know, the kind that happen so slowly you don’t realize the shift has occurred until the Spirit convicts your heart. You realize that your complacency has created poor habits, or you have allowed pride to reign over the light of God in your life and relationships. So glad we have God’s Word and Holy Spirit to guide us back to the cornerstone of truth. As you reminded us above, “…my Lord doesn’t shift, His love is forever.” Amen.
Thank you for stopping by, Gina. It seems as if you, Debbie, and I are having similar thoughts about this. Those slow moving foundational shifts are scary, because, as you say, it sneaks up on us. Before we realize what has happened, we’ve lost our foundation with Jesus and slipped off into a deep, miry pit. Thank you for the reminder that God’s Word and the Holy Spirit are always ready to guide us back to the “cornerstone of Truth.” I hope you have a joyful and blessed week.
In uncertain, unpredictable snd unstable times, we make it through when Christ is our foundation. Thanks for this reminder.
You summed it up so well, Marilyn. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. You’ve been through those hard times and can attest first hand to God’s trustworthiness in caring for His people.
Yes, Katherine, I, too, have experienced these upending shifts under my feet. Though it certainly doesn’t feel good at the time (as your head will attest), God graciously uses them to reveal a better Rock on which to stand.
I agree, Annie. The pathway is often tough and challenging, but walking with Jesus and depending on Him as our foundation provides safety on the journey. We aren’t promised a life without trials, but we have the reassurance that our Lord is always with us.
Such a good reminder to build our lives on the solid rock of Jesus. 🎶All other ground is sinking sand.🎶
Oh, yes, Terri, He is our rock. I’ve experienced the sinking sand and I definitely want to stay with my Rock. Wishing you a blessed day.
Thanks so much Katherine. I agree the shifts are often the wake up call. It reminds me again of the hope we have in the solid Rock. I’m glad you are OK. It must have been scary!
Yes, it was scary and I was blessed to only be “wounded” and not seriously hurt. Like you, I am thankful for our Rock. On this cool, cloudy fall day, I hope you have joy and sunshine.
While God has yet to bless me with meeting “Farmer Bob” in person, I would bet dollars to doughnuts that when he heard your cry, he stopped breathing until he knew you would be okay. While Ms. Diane seldom helps me around the farm and ranch operation, I’ve learned two things the hard way. Keep my phone handy, and my head on a swivel. When I’m working alongside others, whether they’re helping me or I’m helping them, my “safety consciousness” kicks into overdrive. Just a week or so ago, I was cleaning up from the recent fencing work to peer across our pastures and see my also-mature neighbor extending himself precariously on a ladder attempting to repair a structure. Too far away to hear me, I called his cell phone, fussed at him for doing such a fool hardy thing, and told him to get down. I’d be over with my tractor and the large basket platform we built together to help him with his task. As for lifting bales, if your squares are anything like mine, they’re about 65 pounds each. Please tell me you’re not stacking these my friend? God’s blessings, and please stay safe ma’am.
Thank you for sharing your story about your neighbor. You are a good neighbor, my friend, of that I have no doubts. You were observant and stepped in to assist. Of course, I’m sure you never do anything dangerous like that (heh heh). My square bales are heavy, like yours. I can handle them to put in the wheelbarrow and I often stack the load on the trailer in the field. But I cannot stack in the shed–I’m not strong enough for that. I am blessed to have good neighbors and family to help. I’m sure Farmer Bob was scared when I fell, but he managed to hide it well–being that stoical man, I guess. Like you, he was observant and tried to always be ready for the unexpected. Wishing blesses and good health for you and your sweet bride.
As a fellow hay stacker I know the value of a good foundation. And the smaller bales that are still 60-70 pounds. My foundation was shattered when my son was diagnosed with Graves’ disease at 12 and then again when I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. You quickly learn that anything earthly can slip away but God is our only firm foundation.
Lyme Disease is the chronic condition that keeps on giving, not in a nice way. I pray that you aren’t suffering long term debilitating effects and you have a medical team that is knowledgeable of effective treatments. When we take our burdens to God, He gets us through those hardships, but we still experience great pain. Thank you for sharing. (Yes, those bales are in that weight range–keeps us tough, doesn’t it?)
How scary this must have been! I like the analogy you make with our heavenly Foundation. It’s the only truly stable one we can depend upon.
On the farm, accidents will happen, but you are right–it was scary. We are blessed to have a safe foundation with our Father. Thank you for stopping by and blessing my day. Wishing you joy and sunshine, my friend.
The image of you falling was difficult to read, but the lesson you gleaned about the need to stand on a solid foundation was redemptive. Glad you were not injured worse and were able to use the experience to reinforce spiritual truth, Katherine!
I still remember the horror I felt as my foundation shifted and I fell into space. I know that I am blessed to have survived without long-lasting effects. I hope I can always remember this lesson and apply it to staying secure in God’s solid and never-failing foundation Thanks so much for your encouragement and good wishes, Mary.
Katherine, your experiences paints a perfect picture of how our foundation can waver without warning. If we are not vigilant to watch for those cracks that can cause us to take our eyes off Jesus we will tumble into temptation like you tumbled from your haybales. Hats off to you for stacking hay! You must have some muscles. Thanks for the post, my friend.
“Tumble into temptation.” I’ve done that, too, Barbara. I expect we all have at times. You are right–we must be vigilant to avoid those hazards and pitfalls that threaten to separate us from God. My muscles are not as strong as they used to be, but I’m trying to maintain as much as possible. Farm work require strength, just as resisting the devil’s schemes does (James 4:7). Thank you for adding your insight to our discussion. Wishing you a blessed week.
“Our foundation in Christ isn’t an accident. It’s a choice.” So glad you are well. Thanks for a serious reminder that He holds us in His hands–no matter what.
Thank you for reminding us of God’s eternal trustworthiness–“He holds us in His hands–no matter what.” We are so blessed!
I can think of several times that the enemy tried to rip the rug out from under my feet so I would fall. Fortunately, the Lord has never dropped me on my feet and keeps me secure on His path.
I agree, Joanna. My Lord has always been with me–when I have been with Him. The times that I have distanced myself from Him is when my foundation faltered and I stumbled and feel. We are so blessed that our Father is trustworthy, He won’t fail us.
At this stage of my life, I can recount more instances than I care to in regard to the painful result of placing myself in situations I thought were stable and discovering the hard way that they weren’t. I’m so glad your fall wasn’t as disastrous as it could have been. Thanks for sharing such a graphic and personal reminder to be careful what we trust. The more devastating a fall could be, the more critical it is to choose our footing wisely. The Scripture you shared is a piece of bedrock that will stand eternally, and we’re all enriched by the reminder. God bless you, Katherine–and may He devise some creative way for you to help out without climbing on top of a hay wagon.
Ron, thank you for sharing your insight and reminding us that we’re not alone in making those poor choices that send us on the way to a tottering foundation. Thank you for your concern for my safety–farming can be dangerous for all involved. As I get older, my children and neighbors are pitching in to help and, most often, I get assigned to drive the tractor (the easiest job in the hay field). Although, I still have to scamper (or crawl) up the stack at times, it’s less often these days. May God bless you, sir, and your continued service to Him.