"Jesus and Tomatoes Coming Soon!"

I got to thinking this morning about how I can’t wait for a good ol’ tomato and some peaches, and Kate Campbell’s classic, “Jesus and Tomatoes Coming Soon!”, came to mind. We love us some summer produce!

We’re not big bumper sticker people, but we did have this one taped to the back window of our minivan for awhile — used to drive our kids nuts. It’s so embarrassing, Dad. The phrase occasions a big grin every time I think of it and it speaks, really, to the core of who I am.

Backwoods country — which is sort of a joke — even though my Mom self-stylizes herself as a “city girl,” growing up in a town with about 15,000 inhabitants, my Dad grew up picking cotton and using outhouses, so I can claim a little of both. Country roads and produce stands can often prompt some good conversations — talking about a good tomato gets at the core of life: sustenance, health, but also beauty and delight, but it’s also about community and toil and harvest.

We plow the fields and scatter the good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand.
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us are sent from heav’n above;
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all His love.
(Jane M. Campbell’s translation of Matthias Claudius’ “Wir pflügen.”)

Even as far removed from the land as I am, we still wonder about the peach crop and the effects of a late freeze. Farming reminds us all of our place in this world and how dependent we are on our heavenly Father and his Providence.

Looking for a city — ridicule and scorn are often the reactions these days to our many billboards and signs with phrases like “Jesus is Coming Soon,” but, actually, they get at a part of our cultural essence. So many of us grew up in Christian households and telling the Good News is just part of who we are. Jesus is coming soon and we better get right with God. Back in the day we could joke about different denominations, but in our open, tolerant society of today, there sure is a lot of judging, most especially of Christians, and even Christians judging other Christians. Back in the day, we could post a phrase like that and not cause an uproar.

Have y’all run into MeMe on social media yet? She is such a hoot and reminds me so much of my Grandmomma — from how she talks about life and family, so many of her recipes, dressing to the nines for church… She can cook something fierce, but her words of wisdom are always spot on. (Here’s a good one.) So much of life is Jesus and tomatoes; MeMe’s signature sign-off is “Shine for Jesus!” (You either get her and love her or you simply don’t.)

MeMe’s Sunday spread always includes several vegetables and fruits — makes me think of our tables growing up. I can’t remember a summer when my Grandmomma didn’t serve cantaloupe slices at every meal. Pintos, green beans, turnip greens, cabbage, sliced tomatoes, cucumbers — is there anything better?

Here’s to summer! Here’s to life and enjoying these days and God’s bounty.