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“Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. If you have ears, hear!” Matthew 13:3b-9 Dear Beloved, I’m no gardener. I don’t like to get my hands dirty. I don’t like bugs. I don’t like bending over, or kneeling for long times. And, I’m always afraid I’m going to pull out the good plants when I weed. I’m no gardener, but my next-door neighbor is. She and her husband plant a beautiful garden every year: both vegetables and flowers. They work hard at it. She is out almost every day, tilling, planting and weeding. One morning this spring, as I headed out for another bike ride, she was out planting seeds. One at a time, she lovingly planted each seed, gently covering it with soil and giving it its first drink of water. I knew that she would care for each one of those plants as it grew. I envision God being such a gardener; lovingly and gently planting each seed and caring for it as it grows. God loves each of us. But this is not how God, the sower, is portrayed in the “Parable of the Sower.” Rather than a gardener who plants each seed with care, God (the sower) indiscriminately scatters the seeds, letting them land wherever they land; on the path, on rocks, in thorns, or on fertile soil. God generously sows seeds everywhere! This is how it is with God’s love, mercy, grace and forgiveness. God is generous in love and mercy, grace and forgiveness, regardless of where it lands. God’s love for us abounds even when we don’t realize it. God loves us no matter who we are, or where we are on life’s journey! And that’s good news! In the Peace, Love and Light of Christ Chris Heintz Interim Pastor PS: Many thanks to those who have donated to support my Empire State Ride to End Cancer; a 550-mile bicycle ride from New York City to Niagara Falls to raise money for the Roswell Park Cancer Center. www.empirestateride.com If you would like to donate, please put cash in a marked envelope or make checks out to “Empire State Ride” and leave them in the collection plate or send them to BFC. Or CLICK HERE to go to my personal fundraising page to make a secure donation by credit card online.
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