The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Faith, Fields, and Everything

Once upon a time, in a small town surrounded by golden fields, there arrived two women, Lucy and her mother-in-law, Betty. They had come from far away, from a city filled with busy streets and bright lights. But when their family had fallen on hard times, they had packed everything they owned into a small car and driven through fields and mountains, over rivers and past little country towns, until they reached this quiet village. With very little to their name, Lucy and Betty hoped they might find a new beginning.

When they arrived, they were greeted by simple houses and a warm breeze, the smell of wildflowers, and the sight of people working together in the fields. They were shown to a little house near the edge of town, with walls that creaked in the wind and windows that let in the evening sun. It wasn’t much, but to Lucy and Betty, it felt like shelter and hope.

Lucy and Betty quickly settled into a rhythm in their new home. Each morning, they would rise early and join the villagers in the fields, planting and harvesting alongside their neighbours. It was hard work, and their hands grew calloused and rough, but neither of them complained. Every evening, they returned to their little house, where they cooked a small meal, laughed over stories of the day, and thanked God for the shelter, food, and kindness they received.

Though they had very little money to spare, Lucy and Betty always found a way to give a small offering at the town’s little church. It was a humble place, with wooden pews and sunlight streaming through plain glass windows, but it felt like home to everyone who walked through its doors. Every Sunday, the two women would sit side by side, and when it came time for the offering, they would place a few coins in the collection plate. They gave with open hearts, knowing that what they shared would help those in need, even if it meant they went without a few small comforts themselves.

Despite their limited resources, the women’s generosity was noticed by others in the village. Many wondered why Lucy and Betty gave so freely when they themselves had so little. But Lucy and Betty didn’t speak of it—they gave quietly, in faith, trusting that God would continue to provide what they needed.

One day, during the annual harvest festival, the whole town gathered in the square. There was singing and laughter, food shared around long tables, and people dancing to the sound of an old guitar. Lucy and Betty watched from the edge of the crowd, enjoying the joy and warmth that seemed to fill the air. As they stood there, they noticed a man named James, a local farmer, standing nearby. James had watched Lucy and Betty’s hard work and kindness in the months since they had arrived, and he had seen how they gave so generously to others, even when it meant making sacrifices themselves.

James came over and introduced himself, sharing a warm loaf of bread he’d baked that morning. The three of them talked by the firelight, sharing stories of past seasons, dreams for the future, and tales of the places they had come from. James found himself drawn to Lucy’s quiet strength and her willingness to give, even when times were tough.

As the days went on, Lucy and James continued to cross paths in the fields. They worked side by side, sometimes in silence and sometimes in laughter, slowly becoming friends. Their bond grew naturally, like two plants reaching towards the same light, and soon the whole town noticed that Lucy and James were becoming more than just friends. In time, they stood together as partners, rooted in their shared commitment to each other, the village, and the faith that guided them both.

Over the years, Lucy and James built a life together, tending to the fields, caring for their neighbours, and quietly supporting the village’s small church. And though they never had much wealth, they always found a way to give what they could, just as Betty had taught Lucy long ago.

In the little village, surrounded by the fields that they had come to love, Lucy and James became a source of steady kindness and quiet generosity, their lives shaped by the simple choice to give and to love. And in that quiet corner of the world, the community continued to grow, bound by the same faith, hope, and care that Lucy and Betty had brought with them on their journey, now passed down for others to carry forward.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Faith, Fields, and Everything
(shorter version)

Lucy and her mother-in-law, Betty, arrived in a small village with little more than a few belongings and the hope for a fresh start. They worked tirelessly in the fields, joining the villagers in planting and harvesting. Though they had almost no money, they made it a habit to give a small offering each Sunday at the village church. People noticed their quiet generosity and wondered at how freely they gave, even when they themselves had so little.

During the annual harvest festival, Lucy and Betty met James, a local farmer who had noticed their kindness and hard work. Over time, he and Lucy became close, drawn together by their shared commitment to their community and to each other. Soon, Lucy and James were partners, working side by side in the fields and building a life rooted in love and mutual support.

Even as their days filled with the challenges of village life, Lucy and James always made room for quiet generosity, just as Betty had taught her. Year after year, they continued to give faithfully to the church, a small act of devotion that touched many in their community.

Their lives became an example of love, faith, and kindness, showing how two people with very little could nurture hope in others through their quiet giving. And as the seasons passed, the village thrived, shaped by the simple generosity that Lucy and Betty had brought with them, now passed down for future generations to carry forward.