Signs of The Times

Living in a rural West African community where most people’s main source of income is farming you swiftly learn a lot about rain, seed, field preparation, fertilizer, and harvest.  What makes farming even more challenging in this climate is that we have two seasons.  Dry season lasts about 9 months out of the year with very scant or no rain and rainy season which is growing season where it rains most days.  Usually rainy season starts in July, but the farmers are always on the lookout for the signs that the rains are coming. 

Over the last few weeks the “signs of the times” show clearly an early start to the rainy season is very likely.  After living here through 7 rainy seasons I am learning what to watch out for.  The weaver birds have started arriving, the flies are increasing (ick) and this plant that lives on my front porch and only has leaves in rainy season is big and full.  In the last few days even the more imminent signs are here with rising humidity, rain looking clouds and a couple of days with some sprinkles.  Of course, the sprinkles happened on the night I had all of my luggage on top of the car!  My Gambian neighbors have also noted signs with certain trees blooming and more.

 Everyone around me is not just looking for these signs, they are responding to them when they are seen.  People are out on their farms preparing the fields, they are making sure they have enough seed and fertilizer.  The people around me are on alert, prepared and expectantly waiting.  While my Gambian friends are watching for the signs and watching the horizon for the rains, I cannot help but think of the “signs of the times” in this world we are living in.  Scripture tells us that no one will know when Jesus returns yet we are to be alert, prepared and expectantly awaiting His return.  My question to myself and others is not if we see the signs, but what are we doing with this information? Are we preparing, are we telling others, what are we doing to prepare the fields for a spiritual harvest, or to water those fields or to clear out the weeds?  I will leave you with that question as it has sure impacted me and let you pray and discern what you should do with the current “signs of the times.”