The Harvest

Last fall, I spent several days walking through Rioja, Spain, where vineyards and olive trees lined my path.  The grapes were deep purple and bountiful.  The trees were heavy with ripening olives.  The landscape was stunning.  As I walked along in a quiet breeze, under a warm sun and a clear sky, I felt a sense of abundance--that we have everything we need. 

I overheard in a sleepy bar that that farmers were struggling to meet the demands of the harvest. They rely on migrant workers, mostly from Senegal, for the picking of the grapes. My fellow travelers and I asked a few questions while sipping a local wine that was both delicious and cheap. 

The next day, I saw my one and only episode of harvest.  Several African men, with skin made even blacker from the sun, sat in trucks on their lunch break eating homemade food from tupperware containers. I walked by, but with the uneasy feeling that the abundance of the Creator is not well distributed. I turned back and gave the workers my cash on hand and thanked them for picking the grapes. Alms to assuage my guilt. 

I felt bad that I hadn’t paid more for the tasty wine. I’m reminded of this every time I see someone earning minimum wage and think of my 401(k)…the sad fact that I actually get richer when others earn less. There is just something morally wrong about that.

Holy one, help us to create a new world order where all work is honored and wages are more equal.

Judy is a founding member of Peace Christian Church.