Most farmers will be winding down their seeding operations. It has been an intense season for them with extremely long hours coupled with outside pressures and responsibilities. This year, as in recent years, the drought is never far from their minds.
Most ranchers will be putting their cows out to pasture now. The exhausting calving season is winding down; there’s never a dull moment on a ranch with fence to fix, calves to brand and haying equipment to get ready. This year, as in recent years, the drought is never far from their minds. Hopefully by the time this goes to press, we will have seen some widespread moisture come to our area.
Of all walks and ways of life, I hold farmers and ranchers in high regard. Many times, they are misrepresented, misunderstood and undermined. I believe being a farmer or rancher is a high calling such as the calling of a doctor or a policeman. The sacrifices they make are incredible. Do we really understand the higher purpose of the farmer and rancher? They feed the world! Farmers and ranchers have come under attack in recent years, yet they truly are the backbone of society.
These men and women are pioneers to the core; they are open-minded, progressive thinkers, all the while breaking new ground. They don’t lock the door to their work and go home. They live out their calling 24/7. It is a part of their DNA. A pioneer is “… a person who is among the first to explore or settle a new country or area.” There is a strong pioneering spirit in our great province of Saskatchewan. I am reminded of my great grandma who spent her first winter near Maple Creek, SK under a wagon (that was turned upside down) for shelter. Pioneers will pay the price for what they believe in.
God never wants us to settle, maintain or become stagnant. He is always encouraging us to reach and grow forward. It can be unsettling to go into unknown territory, yet He asks us to take steps of faith into the ‘new’. He is asking us to move forward despite the fact we’ve never been that way before; something like Joshua going into the Promised Land. “Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before… and the Lord will do amazing things among you.” Joshua 3:4,5. We need to walk forward in obedience with courage, as He has called us to. A pioneer goes first — blazing the trail for others to come along behind.
Christine Caine speaks of being a pioneering leader in life, regardless of what your background is or who you are. She suggests we intentionally develop pioneering leadership qualities such as:
- Being a self-starter. “Move forward without the help of others.”
- Being motivated by internal rewards. I like to think of this as incubating something on the inside; not sharing all your innovative ideas but allowing them to grow and develop within before they are shared with the world.
- Inspiring others. Rally others to the cause you are passionate about. This can be achieved through many means.
- Staying the course. Commit and persist. Don’t give up!
- Being creative, innovative and imaginative.
- Connecting and networking. It’s not all about “me.”
Christine Caine encourages us to “… start looking for the paths God wants you to forge for the future. And then, move forward pushing through every challenge, never losing sight of what God has called you to do.”
What has God called you to pioneer?
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
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