The Tension After Ascension

As we contemplate the Ascension of the Lord, it is with mixed emotions that we tackle the end of today's Gospel reading. It must have been quite an anxious and overwhelming thought for the disciples as they stood there alone in the desert without their leader once again. Eventually, they'd get their wits about them enough to return to Jerusalem with great joy.

Spring reveals itself in much of the same manner. We have so much to be joyous for. As the weather warms up, we are learning so much about local medicinal plants growing naturally on the land that can be used for food, salves, and more. We have begun offering our monthly donors an opportunity to experience some of the blessings that our farm provides.

We've also started our own little garden, which includes radishes, cabbage, brussel sprouts, strawberries, among other things. A church friend taught us how to graft apple trees, which result in over a dozen apple trees of many varieties to start our own budding orchard.

Clearing the land in preparation for cow pastures and other buildings have resulted in an abundance of wood for building. With this, we can build a stanchion for milking our cow, gates for our barns and pastures, and furniture for our decks and throughout the property. The rest will be used for firewood to provide heat in the coming winter and bonfires throughout the summer.

Additionally, we've been able to repurpose rocks on our land to create walkways and patch our driveways. Through all this, we are realizing the extent of the possibilities that our 60-acre land possesses, with plans to put in multiple pastures, a grotto for our Mother Mary, a little chapel, and a Catholic Worker retreat center.

Yet like the disciples in the moment right after the Ascension, farm life provides much to be apprehensive about. The weather for one has been testing our perseverance and ability to cope with new kinds of weather-inflicted damages. This year alone we've had "the worst winter storm in 20 years", "the worst flooding in 40 years", and an EF4 tornado that ripped through London, Kentucky, which was the next town over. We've never experienced the full potential of Mother Nature before, and we sure have a new respect for her through all these events. It didn't take us long to adjust our schedule and expectations according to her mood.

In the midst of all this, we have acquired a beautiful Highland Park mama cow and her baby calf, which presented a new set of responsibility and challenges. Who knew we have now entered the next level of farming! Dixie is a majestic 2000-pound beast who's used to a big green pasture in the previous farm. Needless to say, we pressed to clear a pasture for her and put up barbed wire fencing around the whole area, despite the physical, financial and weather challenges. We were finally able to get her out of her stall onto greener pastures last week, and seeing her and her baby out there truly made all the blood, sweat and tears worth it.

All of this has left us with some important immediate needs. We have been continually praying for a tractor to manage the damages from the rain and the weather, to fix our driveways, bridge, and fallen trees all over property, and to clear new pastures for future grazing and new buildings. We need building supplies for the community kitchen/laundry. We need funds to pay laborers. We need fencing materials for Dixie's long-term pasture. And we need to be able to address any immediate health needs our animals may face, such as when our goat Latte broke her leg.

How could the disciples be joyous? The world they were going back to must have been a place of uncertainty and confusion. They must have known that they would be placing their very lives at risk and would face challenges they couldn't even imagine. They were joyous because they knew our Lord was not really gone. Our Lord never leaves us; in fact, He carries us through our most difficult times. He is there to get us through a cold bitter winter freeze. He is there when the waters are within 20 feet of our cabin. And He is there to hold the tornado back. Whatever we face, we, like the disciples, have a mission to proclaim the name of Jesus to the world, no matter the circumstances.

Thank you to all who have helped us get through the extreme weather this winter and spring have presented. As always, your help is necessary and appreciated. First and foremost, we can use your prayers for wisdom, strength and perseverance. Additionally, we need financial support, as we continue to run Mary's House relying solely on God's providence. Lowe's and Walmart gift cards are also appreciated and can be mailed to P.O. Box 51, Goose Rock, KY 40944. Finally, we have finally reached a place where we can use volunteers to work on the land. If you are interested in visiting the farm, please fill out the form at the bottom of the Visit page.