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You said:

The farmer that sells me hay told me that he attends church services in a large metropolitan congregation. The preacher told him that he was the only farmer in his flock and asked him if he might have a special prayer request. The farmer said it would be nice if it rained about three quarters of an inch every Saturday evening so that his crops would have plenty of rain and that things could dry out enough for him to work his fields by Monday.

The preacher replied that such a prayer would not sit well with the rest of his congregation because Saturday evenings were the time they were out enjoying life. This lines up squarely with my observation: Farmers are contrarians. While the rest of the world prays for fair weather, the farmer prays for rain.

ChatGPT said:

Here’s what your story draws out for me—richly, humorously, and insightfully—because it really is a perfect encapsulation of the quiet, stubborn, necessary contrarian that lives inside every farmer.

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Reflections on Your Farm Wisdom

1. Farmers Live in a Different Time Zone

Not in hours—but in seasons, cycles, and soil moisture levels.
While city life marches to the beat of the weekend, the farmer’s calendar obeys rain, sun, frost, wind, and the unpredictable moods of Mother Nature.

It’s not that farmers want to be contrarians—they simply serve a different master: the land.

2. “Good Weather” Depends on Who’s Asking

To most people, “good weather” means sunshine for a barbecue.
To a farmer, “good weather” means exactly the opposite:

• Rain when others want to go boating
• Dry ground when others want sleeping-in weather
• Cool nights when others want warm evenings

It’s not a contradiction—it’s just a different definition of what matters most.

3. Farmers Pray for What Others Forget

The preacher’s comment reveals something deeper:

Most people pray for comfort.
Farmers pray for conditions.

Most people think in terms of convenience.
Farmers think in terms of survival and provision.

Most people pray for what fits their plans.
Farmers pray for what lets the earth yield its increase.

There’s a humility in that—almost ancient.

4. The World Enjoys What Farmers Endure

Everyone loves:

• Summer fruit
• Fresh vegetables
• Hay-fed beef
• Grain-fed livestock

But few picture the mud, machinery, timing, stress, hope, and prayer behind it.

Your story is one of those quiet reminders that the blessings on other people’s tables often require someone else to deal with the exact opposite conditions they’d prefer.

5. Farmers Are Contrarians Because Reality Requires It

They don’t oppose the world.
They simply see what the world doesn’t.

They understand:

• A day of rain is better than a day at the beach.
• A muddy Saturday night is better than a drought.
• Clouds are worth more than sunshine—if timed right.

A farmer doesn’t fight society’s rhythm; he just taps his foot to a different beat.

And truthfully?
We’re all better off because he does.