Bittersweet Farm

Harold E. Kohn was from Michigan. I still lived in my native Ohio when I discovered him. He was a fellow pastor, writer, lover of nature and Michigander. Once a year the Public Library of Mt. Vernon, Ohio had a generous sale to rid themselves of their discarded books. It was a bit of an annual holiday for me.

Had it not been for Dorothy Hall I might never have met Mr. Kohn. Dorothy read every word of the Mt. Vernon News from the masthead to the most obscure classified add. She knew I loved books. When notice of the annual library sale hit the paper I could count on Dorothy clipping it for me.

At one of the annual sales I met Mr. Kohn…I discovered one of his books that is. He is no longer living. Sorting through the stacks I happened across a collection of his essays, “Thoughts Afield.” I was delighted to discover that “Thoughts Afield” was a collection of nature essays set in rural northern Michigan. It was written by a pastor. The book was generously illustrated by his own original artwork. If I remember right I added it to my personal library for a quarter.

Considering creation is important. It is something we should do every day. And we should look beyond creation to the Creator. In the first part of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans he describes the downward spiral of people who turn away from God. He writes that they exchange the truth of God for a lie and worship and serve the created thing rather than the creator. The wisdom literature of the Old Testament instructs young people to remember their Creator in the day of their youth. When Paul spoke on Mars Hill in Athens he spoke of the Creator God and said, “He created all things…and in him we live, and move, and have our being.” When the New Testament reaches its dramatic climax in the Revelation of Jesus Christ the occupants of heaven are declaring the worthiness of Christ, among other things, because of his Creation. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Rev 4:11 KJV) When I can’t get afield myself Harold E. Kohn’s essays help me ponder the wonders of creation.

Now I have another of his books to enjoy. When I turn the little volume over in my hand and admire it, I wonder if anyone will ever consider it a day well spent because they discovered a copy of one of my books in a used bookstore. Sometimes when the fire burns low in the evening I think about things like that. It makes me want to get to writing worthwhile things.

If you ever pray for me, pray that I will write things worth publishing. I would to get things into a form and venue that will survive me. All my life I want to write things that encourage and inspire and convict others. When I am gone I love the thought of someone I have never met discovering the beauty of Michigan and the wonder of Christ in my writing.

Ken Pierpont
Riverfront Character Inn
Flint, Michigan
July 18, 2005

Books by Harold E. Kohn include:

Books I have:

Adventures in Insight
Thoughts Afield

Books I am looking for:

Best Wishes for Common Days and Special Days
Evergreen Things
Feeling Low?
In Unexpected Places
Nearby
Pathways to Understanding
Seeing Stars
Small Wonders
The Tinsel and the Hay
Through the Valley
Where Heaven and Earth Meet

UPDATE: Today I receive a copy of Best Wishes as a gift from Nancy in New Mexico. She saw she had a book I wanted to add to my collection as was kind enough to send it to me as a gift. Nancy, if you read this, send me your address and I will send you a free copy of Sunset on Summer.