Scattered

Of all the parables of Jesus, the one about the sower and the seeds may be the easiest to understand, because Jesus takes the time to explain.

Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources. When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: ‘A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.  Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture.  Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold.’ As he said this, he called out, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’ Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant.  He said, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in parables, so that “looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand.” ‘Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.  The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away.  As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.  But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance. - Luke 8:1-15

If Jesus didn't explain this parable in terms of the acceptance of the Word of God, how would we interpret it in our lives today?

I could imagine using Jesus's parable in a TED Talk about pursuing our dreams. 

It could be used as advice to the job hunter to make one's elevator pitch to everyone, not knowing who will be receptive and want to hire you and who will turn a deaf ear.

Or perhaps the start-up looking for funding might hear this as encouragement for trying repeatedly against all failures, knowing at some point the vision will become a reality.

When we have a vision, a calling, a mission, a driving purpose in our lives, we do not worry about failures.  We just plow on, knowing what we are doing is right and true, with the faith that it will work out in the end.

That's the way to live life, isn't it?  Why let obstacles stop us, when they may just be there to give us time to think and modify our approach?

Some might think this approach is a bit scattered.  Casting seeds where we know they will not take seems wasteful, but think about it this way.  Would we stop investing in education in neighborhoods with high dropout rates?  Would we not offer jobs to people who have committed crimes and served time?

So, why not invest our time and effort without worrying about failure?

Who knows what may result?

More to come...