Sow What?

Where do you plant your seeds?

He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 'Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.' And he said, 'Let anyone with ears to hear listen!' - Mark 4:2-9

I have always enjoyed this parable of the sower.  While it is often interpreted to refer to the spreading of the Gospel, I like to think it applies to everything we set out to do in life.

We can look at the sower's indiscretion in throwing seeds everywhere and say that he is inefficient or sloppy, wasting seeds on soil that will not support the plants.

Or we can look at him as a scientist, testing all sorts of agar in his Petri dish, hoping to find the perfect medium for his specimen.

Or we can see him as a salesman knocking on all doors in all neighborhoods, hoping for a sale.

Or we can see him as the candidate looking for a job, seeking interviews in a variety of businesses and locations.

Or we can see him as an entrepreneur, looking for the right connection for his ideas, attracting the right support in the right market at the right time.

So, what are you sowing and where are you sowing it?

I think the key to success I get from this story is to try everything, everywhere, expecting that something will work.

Why not?

Yes it is more work, but the more I pitch an idea or share a plan or teach a lesson, the better I get, and the more likely I will succeed eventually.  If I am persistent and patient and open to seeing results where I don't expect them, the effort will be worth it.

The cost is greater, yes, but so what?

Life and faith should be lived the same way, fully, without fear.

Something good will come of it.  That I'm sure.

More to come...