There’s an old man who lives along the county’s edge – a farmer, by trade, now carrying the legacy of all those before him. For years, he’s kept a produce stand at the end of his driveway – “FREE FOR THOSE IN NEED” the sign reads. And, in much smaller letters, “A Reminder For Those Who Have Enough.’

With each new harvest, the stand’s contents will begin to overflow. “Only the best” he’ll say, “for my neighbors and friends.”

Year after year, I’ve watched his garden grow. At first, just a few short rows of strawberries and tomatoes – soon after followed by potatoes and greens. By the end of the third season, the farm had nearly doubled in size. Members of the community, hearing of his compassion, were now eager to lend a hand.

In time, the farm became so productive that the food was shared with neighboring communities. “Only the best,” he’d smile, wiping the dirt from his brow.

One day, I had the honor of speaking with the farmer directly. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” his voice trailed off, as if in disbelief. He further explained, that when he had first taken over the farm – he’d adopted a ‘for profit only’ mentality. Meaning, everything was driven by the farm’s bottom line.

And yet – no matter how hard he tried, he continued to fail.

One day, when experiencing a moment of profound agitation – he simply gave up. “I grabbed my tractor and moved it all to the end of the drive.” And, placing that first sign – “”FREE” – he then retreated to the kitchen of the 18th century farmhouse, where he sat for hours reflecting on the dream that had become a constant source of pain.

Just then, there was a knock at the door – a young man with two little ones in tow. “If I promise to come every day, can I continue to take some food. Not all of it,” the young man hesitated, “just enough to help keep us going.”

So much was shared during the course of that first conversation – a man having just lost his wife, now struggling to survive. “It was because of him, that I agreed to give it another go,” the farmer shared. “Only this time, I changed my approach – from ‘for profit’ to ‘for all.’

As the weeks passed, the crowds began to grow; people from all around, having heard the story, were now eager to support his cause. Some donating food from their own pantries and farms; while others rolled up their sleeves to help sow seeds to ground. The rest, as they say, was history – a once troubled farm now abundent in yield.

And with each bushel, a new source of boundless insoirarion – FREE FOR THOSE IN NEED, (and a reminder for those with enough.) A lesson to be leveraged in uncertain times.

In peace, my sweet friends…

Namaste ❣