The Harvest
Timeless Lessons for an Abundant Life

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For more information read the introduction to The Harvest
Timeless Lessons for an Abundant Life
 
Growing crops is not for sissies…it requires planning and persistence every day of the year because sowing seeds and expecting a harvest calls for total commitment. This means working hard, maintaining faith, honoring cycles, taking risks, sharpening the saw, and functioning as a team.
 
Running a country store involves keeping up with supply and demand to meet the needs of folks in a community…providing fuel and food and more while also offering a place for sharing stories and connecting with neighbors.
 
Leaving the farm and starting a business takes guts and calls for a combination of charming personality, risk-taking, and unwavering belief in oneself and the products and services offered to customers.
 
Working hard I learned lessons while growing up on a big farm in rural North Carolina from my parents who cultivated crops, raised animals, gathered tons of vegetables and fruits from our large garden, and apples, peaches, and pecans from trees in our yard.
 
Listening intently I learned lessons at my Grandpa’s country store where he offered staples like “dranks” and MoonPies, hoop cheese, and cookies and candy from large jars on the counter. Here we took a break from constant chores and tedious hours to share stories and catch up on the latest gossip.
 
Watching carefully I learned lessons from my favorite uncle about a burning desire and big dreams as he developed a small cabinet shop into a large building supply company. Through his attitude and actions I saw there were possibilities beyond the family farm.
 
From many folks I learned a lot about being honest, having values, developing character, respecting traditions, cultivating a sense of humor, establishing harmonious relationships, and meeting the needs of family and others. Bountiful crops, stocked shelves, and big businesses showed me that success is possible in many different ways if we are willing to pay the price.
 
Perhaps my greatest teachers were Mother Nature and Father Time as I discovered how to live in harmony with flavors of the fields, seasons of the year, and matters of the heart. The Creator spoke to me most when I was roaming the woods or sitting still by the pond, which inspired me to write poetry and prose.
 
My childhood in Buckhorn community was humble, which was typical of farm life in the 1950s and 1960s where most folks owned plenty of land but were cash poor. The “citified” life attracted me with its fancy dress shops and impressive homes in suburbia. I confess that I wanted fame and fortune. Eventually I experienced notoriety through careers in the media and in marketing, and later through writing and publishing books, but there was always a longing for something more.
 
I couldn’t find fulfillment out there in the world. Making a lot of money and providing communication services for eager clients and customers did not make me feel rich inside. Getting more attention from loyal readers and appreciative audiences convinced me that I offered entertaining and educational programs, but it was not enough. Coming home and making peace with my childhood helped for a while but also exposed wounds that needed to be healed and reminded me of truths that could not be revealed.
 
Through the decades I shared humorous anecdotes, interesting reflections, spiritual solutions, and practical strategies with all types of people. I met the needs of others in many incarnations, but somewhere along the way I lost touch with my divine mission.
 
Finally it took an overwhelming car accident and devastating failure to stop the insanity that had taken over my life and bring me to my knees and say “God, I surrender...use me.”
 
While healing my body and mind of pain and trauma I also soothed my spirit and eventually began to understand that my soul was revealing a deeper purpose for my life. As I sowed seeds for growing and reaping a different me I had to go back to the beginning and fully appreciate the lessons I had learned to create an abundant life.
 
  © 2015 AlexSandra Lett