September 2007
by Akiiki Kabagarama

"For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete." Deuteronomy 16:15b (NIV).

As I write, I can picture and feel the excitement we used to have in my birth-country, Uganda, during this time. People took time to clean their homes and compounds, prepare special meals and for those who could afford it, this was a time to buy new clothes. In my home region, special meals meant the newly-harvested millet, omuganuro, goat or beef stew and mashed bananas wrapped in banana leaves, omubumbo. Since I did not eat meat for a long time, my mother made sure I had my special mushrooms, obutuzi. In many places around the world, harvest time brings people together. Women always try their best to work together, harvesting one field and then moving on to the next. As a young person growing up, it was a joy for me to listen to the laughter and songs of these women as they carried on with their work. I learned in those fields that harvest was a time for each person to bring their gifts forward into the community to be honored. Whatever the gift – hard work, cooking, storytelling, childcare, singing, dancing, or praying – all were utilized, all were received.

People of God, always remember that the harvest is going on everyday in our lives. Whether celebrating the birth of a new baby, a grandbaby, niece, nephew or simply, any baby that enters the world, there is the harvest. There are also gifts and talents in all of us that God is constantly asking us to “harvest” and bring to the “storehouse” so that they can be used to enhance God’s Reign, here on earth. Even simple acts such as getting out of bed, writing papers, recovering from an illness, completing a task such as an education program, completing a day’s work and many more, are harvests. Do you now realize that your life is decorated with harvests? Do you know that you do not have to feel bored, anxious frustrated or empty? Enjoy a harvest life!

Prayer
Dear God of the harvest,
Thank you for the harvest in my life. I now realize that my very life is a harvest for you because you did the planting with care. Please constantly remind me to look at the full basket that I have and help me to be a blessing to others. Amen.