Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - June/87

Contributor - Ed Den Haan

Title - Loving Neighbour Jake

Topic - StoriesJake does not go to church nor does he work his farm field near the church. Grandfather's grave in the church yard stirs Jake's heart; a voice seems to shout out, "Why Jake, why are you losing my farm?" So Jake stays away from the grave, the church and the field. He does not want to hear the pioneer's disappointed voice.

Memories fill Jake's days. The morning face wash raises images of heavy stones being placed by hand in the well wall. He sees Grandfather's hand digging down deeper and deeper, to find drink for the family. The creaking of the house stairs stirs pictures of long hours with the crosscut for lumber to build the house. Dawn's crowing rooster reminds Jake of Grandfather milking the cows. Grandfather made this place. Now Jake is loosing it. The memories cause pain and shame and guilt. Jake can't face them any more, that's why he stays away from the old pioneer's grave and the church beside it.

It felt so good to take over the farm, a heritage farm. Older brother Harry was envious at the time; he too loved the land. Harry could not leave his Toronto law practice. Harry was sharp with a pencil; he had made sure that Dad had received full value at the going price for the farm. Jake had felt good about paying that price, like showing respect for the family tradition, for the heritage of pride hard work, of loved land. Harry's jealousy was forgotten in the good feeling of being trusted with the family heritage.

Jake's son, Pete, named after Grandfather, was to follow on the farm; that too had been a good feeling. It was fun, strange sometimes, but fun to work the farm knowing Pete would follow. Last night he had caught young Pete throwing apples at his sister from the Maclntosh apple tree Grandfather had planted. Jake had been scolded for the same thing once, he told young Pete, "You don't throw food at your sister. Food is for life, you take pride in it, you don't waste it." Grandma's Depression stories of starvation had taught Jake to respect food and life; Jake had tried to teach young Pete and it had felt good.

The family tradition felt warm and secure, like the old farm house made of field stone, neither one seemed destructible. Young Pete would carry on the heritage into the future. Grandfather's eyes sparkled with seldom seen tears of pride at young Pete's baptism, his family appeared secure. Those were good times.

An immigrant named Bootsma had bought the neighbour out 25 years ago. That somehow signaled change in the community. At first the Bootsmas came to the community church on the corner of Jake's fan-n. They were hard working people and adapted well. Jake found they drove a hard bargain when they bought a good milker for less than Jake had intended. It was good to help the Bootsmas get started.

Soon the Bootsmas had gone to the new immigrant church. The community church budget thus lost another supporter. Now Bootsma's last child was going to a Christian School, as if the community was not Christian.

Church attendance was down as people had moved out. Recently the minister had suggested that the church building be closed and members drive into town on Sundays for worship. How could he leave the old pioneer's grave and church? Jake could not just walk away and leave, that was dishonourable. Things were changing too fast for Jake's liking.

There was no money to pay off the farm bank loan. The accumulated debt load at the bank was worth 4/5 of Jake's property. For sometime now the bank manager had insisted on sharing management decisions, otherwise there would be no further bank loans. It was a rotten feeling. Jake resented the interference in his life. Even though he now made better management decisions, the financial situation did not improve. There was not enough income to pay the bills. Last year it had cost more to grow the corn than he got for it. The results was Jake neither paid on the principle nor the interest at the bank. His debt load was still greater. Jake had been advised to sell the farm.

The Bootsmas were milking 35 cows now and doing well, it seemed. There was some envy in Jake's heart about that. It seemed the immigrants were taking over in the community while the pioneer stock was being moved out. It hurts, heritage roots ran deep in Jake, unbeknown to himself these roots had become both his source of strength and his weakness. There was not enough money left to go on, Jake needed help.

Now, in the evening, as he sat on the porch, he felt badly about it all. The whole family seemed to weigh down on him. Even the good times of the past were only small rays of sunshine in his dark mood. Mary, Jake's wife, appeared more hopeful. She still sang in the choir at church. As she rocked, she hummed "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound." Jake felt a need for some of that grace; it had lifted his spirit in the past. He could not bring himself to talk to Mary about it. Jake felt so alone.

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