Why Not?
When it comes to new ideas, I am a firm believer in testing them out, even if it looks like they might fail miserably.
Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the 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. Let anyone with ears listen!” - Matthew 13:1-9
The parable of the sower exemplifies a very optimistic attitude. It is the attitude of "Why not?"
The sower lets the seeds fall where they may, even though he knows the soil or rocky terrain will not yield crops. It may seem foolish and a waste of seeds, but the sentiment is that God's grace is for everyone, not just for those who are prepared to receive it.
Occasionally, maybe rarely, a seed will not only take root, but will manage to survive to adulthood growing in the oddest, most hostile environment, just like us humans.
So why should we assume we know what will work and what won't?
Now Jesus told this parable to warn his disciples about the work of the evil one who snatches away seeds or distracts us from the Word of God, but the story can also be viewed as a way to live our lives, interacting with the challenges and obstacles in our path.
Why not try? What have we got to lose?
If a tree could find a way to grow in a rock, our craziest ideas might just have a chance to succeed. If we believe in them and are open to seeking help from God and one another, anything may be possible.
Time to plant some seeds.
More to come...