Morning Shine, Life Sublime

Summer Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Shine!”

Not everyone will understand your shine.

Jason Brown once signed a contract as the highest paid center in the NFL.

When the five-year $37.5 million contract with the St. Louis Rams was over, Brown was released by the Rams in 2012, but received an offer from his original team, the Baltimore Ravens. He ultimately turned it down.

Instead, he decided to buy a 1,000-acre farm and raise food to feed the hungry. To date, he has given away over a million pounds of food (mostly sweet potatoes.)

He had no experience farming. He learned on YouTube.

He didn’t listen to those who thought he was crazy.

I spent some time on his farm on Memorial Day weekend, volunteering as a chase crew member at a hot air balloon festival Brown holds to honor families like his own. Gold Star Families. Families who lost loved ones on active duty in the military.

Brown’s brother Lunsford died while serving in Iraq in 2003.

The gold that glitters for Brown is not in his bank account.

It is reflected in the smile that beams as he talks enthusiastically about his life — and his goal to feed even more who may be hungry.

It’s also reflected in the life lessons he and his wife teach their eight kids. Even the youngest has chores on the farm.

This is a barn Brown uses mostly to host weddings. I hate mornings, but I got up very early on this one and, riding through the farm, took the picture through the window of a moving car.

It seemed to sparkle with promise.

Thanks, Mary Chang Story Writer and the Six Word Photo Story Challenge, for this prompt.