cornfieldWhen you write a book, you never know where it may show up some day. One of mine went to the Lord’s Acre sale in our neighborhood last fall. In case you aren’t familiar, here is a little history:

This is a tradition of the Methodist church, especially in rural areas. When it started many years ago, farmers would actually set aside one acre of ground to the Lord. Whatever they grew in that field belonged to God. Sometimes they raised sugar cane and then made molasses to sell at the Lord’s Acre Sale. Or maybe they tended vegetables that could be canned for the sale.

Over the years, the auction has grown to include hand-made quilts, beautiful furniture, baked goods, craft items, and at least one novel by a local author. I don’t know who donated my book, but someone told me it brought about three times its retail price. That just blessed my soul!

The Lord’s Acre Sale takes tithing to a whole new level in my mind. It is so tangible. Not just a check going into the offering plate, but a cabbage that I sweated over in the July heat. Now that it is planting season in our part of the world, I’m thinking about this concept again. I’m looking around my virtual fields and watching for ways to apply my new motto: The first acre for God.

I’ve come up with a few ideas, but I’m always open for more. Any thoughts?