Maybe It's About Us

Well this explains it all now, doesn’t it? Jesus just confirmed what we already know! We already know that there are some people who get it and other people who just don’t get it, or don’t want to get it, or don’t care to get it. And we are all pretty sure that we are the ones who’ve got it. And a lot of the time, we feel compelled to make sure people know that we’re the ones who’ve got it. Face it, there are just some people who lose out. They hear the word, get all hepped up, attend church for a while, get all involved in programs…and then….gone….back to their couches, their sports, their ‘too busy’ mindsets. They are the rocky ground ones who hear the word; receive it with joy; but when it feels like too much of a commitment, or asks too much of them …they just fall away. Then there are those others who are way too invested in what the world thinks, unable to decide between man and manna…and even when they hear the word just as clearly as you and me - the thorns of the world choke out the good news – and well, nothing takes root. And last but not least there are those who even though the word was sown in their hearts, - maybe in their childhood – or at a tough time in their lives – but they never take the time to study and learn and understand it – and the word that was given to them…is just lost. And then there’s us, right…we are the ones who have not only heard the word but we understand it, and not only do understand but we bear fruit because of it…and the yield, in some cases is thirty, or sixty, or a hundred fold. Yep, that’s us. Or so we like to think. But if we take just a minute to reconsider this parable – a parable that tends to put us in an US AND THEM mode… It may be that this parable hits closer to home than we first thought…and maybe it’s about us. Granted we should all be fertile ground – so that the seed of God’s word takes a good hold of us; so that its roots grow deep in our hearts; so that the word sprouts from us growing tall and green, and the world sees the fruit of our Christian spirit. Yes, we should all be fertile ground. But the reality is – we may not always be that fertile ground. Sometimes right next to that fertile ground are some rocks and over here and a little over there thorns can be found growing – not only growing but thriving. The truth about us is even if we think we are always fertile ground – receptive to God’s words and Christ’s teachings = being human --- we are not. There are times in our lives when we feel God’s presence in the most profound way. When our communion with God seems to be right on. When we dive into Scripture like thirsty man gulps down a bottle of water. And find in the words – exactly what we need – be it courage or comfort; help or hope. And then there are those times when the search falls flat on its face. God seems to have taken a temporary leave of absence. Nothing in Scripture seems to apply, no words can be found to describe what and how we are feeling. Life is empty, we are empty, we’ve got nothing more to give and can’t find what we need to replenish us…and the only words that come to our minds when life hits hard are Lord, why have your forsaken me? And what may prove most frustrating to us more than any other is when we know but don’t do. When we come to this realization…. I know that I feel better when I spend intentional time with God. I know that I feel stronger when I take maybe just 10 -15 minutes to begin and end my day with Scripture. I know that I cope with life’s ups and down when I keep close to the Lord. So why do I do only do these things in spirts…why do I start these disciplines = get all revved up, make these commitments during Lent or Advent or as a New Year’s resolution and then let them slide? Each of us possesses fertile ground – as one Episcopal priest* wrote: Jesus is asking us to come into his presence with our best dirt. And I find that image fascinating. Jesus is not asking us to till or hoe, not asking us to fertilize or water, not asking us to root out the moles or spray for aphids or squash bugs. All Jesus wants us to do is to bring him our best – ears ready to hear, eyes ready to see, minds open and longing for the spirit’s breeze to inform us, refresh us; minds hungry to learn and understand; hearts vulnerable enough to embrace his word and internalize his message. All Jesus wants us to do is bring him the best dirt we have, to be the fertile ground – ready to receive his word, his teachings and his call to discipleship. If it might be that this parable is about us – then all the Lord is asking is that we bring him our very best selves – as best as we are able - and lay ourselves open to the workings of the Holy Spirit so that Christ’s word can be made manifest in us, and we in turn can be adequately equipped to take Christ’s message out into the world.