Reviving Fallow Ground

By Mike Hall

Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.

–Hosea 10:12

Dry, oh so dry, thirsty ground in need of a quenching drink,

scorching, unrelenting heat, accelerating the necessity,

quickly hardening what once had produced abundance;

recalling rain’s sweet smell, wafting in on the breeze,

the remembrance of huge drops exploding in the dust

before the welcome deluge of the gift from above.

Is it as simple as faithful prayers lifted heavenward?

asking for the divine rain to soften a hardened heart,

preparing the once fertile vessel to receive the seeds;

reviving fallow ground so a harvest can be reaped once again –

a bountiful harvest on display for God’s glory and honor,

a bountiful harvest extolling God’s merciful forgiveness.

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Mike Hall has been a teacher for 43 years. He has authored two books of poetry, Autumn's Back Porch and Thinking Out Loud. His work has appeared in Spirit Fire Review, Agape Review, Pure in Heart Stories, and Foreshadow Magazine. His words are meant to encourage readers in their daily walk. He and his wife, Cynthia, live in the Dallas area.