Soil

Luke 8:4-15 (The Message)

As they went from town to town, a lot of people joined in and traveled along.

He addressed them, using this story: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. Some of it fell on the road; it was tramped down and the birds ate it. Other seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but withered because it didn't have good roots. Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with it and strangled it. Other seed fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop.

"Are you listening to this? Really listening?"

His disciples asked, "Why did you tell this story?"

He said, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom—you know how it works. There are others who need stories. But even with stories some of them aren't going to get it:

Their eyes are open but don't see a thing,
Their ears are open but don't hear a thing.

"This story is about some of those people. The seed is the Word of God. The seeds on the road are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they hear it than the Devil snatches it from them so they won't believe and be saved.

"The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn't go very deep. It's only another fad, and the moment there's trouble it's gone.

"And the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun.

"But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest.

Every good gardener knows that it all starts with the soil.

North Georgia soil is easily compacted. It's clay, and can bake just like a brick in the summer sun.

It has to be loosened and enriched. It often needs lime, and it need humus of all kinds...organic matter that breaks down and encourages good worms, bugs and bacteria. It needs to "live," so that plants can stretch their roots, gain the nutrients they need and truly flourish.

So, I guess it all really starts with the seed...but it really depends on the soil.

For the last few months, my family and I have been conducting a backyard science experiment. Ultimately, if all goes well, this endeavor will really help our soil, and the plants that root within it.

We've been making compost.

Actually, God has been making it. Nature is at work, along with some help from a few thousand worms.

We've just been supplying the raw materials. Leftover vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, eggshells, old newspapers, yard trimmings...anything that can breakdown over time and turn into rich, black compost.

Gardeners call it, "black gold."

Today, I poured some compost by-product onto my tomato plants. A rich "tea," collects in two plastic tubs under the bins. High in nitrogen and all kinds of stuff, this earthy brew is a fore-runner of the finished product.

Sound gross?

Interesting, isn't it? The work of growth, of soil-building, of health...is sometimes off-putting.

It's not just true for compost and tomatoes...sometimes it's true for our souls as well.

It's hard to really open up the soil of our lives. Sometimes it seems easier to protect ourselves, and to act like pain hasn't been part of who we are...because we're embarrassed, or tired, or proud.

But I'm convinced that our souls can't really grow green, with deep roots in God, unless we're willing to see every single experience of our lives as having a place and purpose. All the difficulties and successes...all of it has to be placed into the great compost bin of God...and presence with him can transform our pain into the very kind of fertile soil that allows for true growth.

This life is about more than "wild enthusiasm that doesn't go very deep." It can be more than, "making money, having fun and worrying about tomorrow."

It can be about depth, roots, growth and victory.

Don't be ashamed of the things in your past that make you who you are today...and offer the possibility for deep-rooted dependence on God.

Embrace it all, and trust God to break us down into the soft, loamy, rich, black soil of grace.

Prayer: Father, we ask that you would sit among us, soften us, loosen us and enrich our hearts as fertile soil for the seeds of your grace. We ask for presence, focus, humility and gratitude.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.