In 2000, Catherine Ryan Hyde published a book about a young boy who changes the world. He changes it not by inventing some technological gadget, not with some scientific discovery but with a very simple idea: that people are good and that we could change the world through simple acts of kindness. I never read the book, but I saw the movie. At the time I thought it was a simple feel good story: great for a date, but not of any importance. It was much later that I realized that this story was in fact an allegory for the parable of the Sower. Just as God scatters seeds everywhere in the belief that some will take root and we will grow in our love and understanding so too did this young boy scatter acts of random kindness in the belief that the recipients would return the kindness 100, sixty or thirty fold.
Consider:
- What seeds have you scattered during your life?
- What harvest did you reap?
Grow
Theme: It doesn't matter where you scatter the seeds, so long as you scatter them.
It would seem so easy and sensible to be concerned about where the seeds are sown. We don't want to waste them. Seeds are like an investment. I want the greatest possible return. We are taught to "waste not want not". I'm not a gardener, but I can imagine how a gardener might react if told to scatter seeds on the sidewalk, under a bird feeder, among the rocks, or in a thorn bed. We don't want to waste seeds where they won't grow; where they won't yield the greatest crop of vegetables or the most beautiful bunch of flowers. I find it easy to look at life that way. My time and resources are limited. I can't afford to waste anything. I want to invest where I will most likely get a return of 100, 60 or 30 fold.
Read: Romans 12:3 [1]: For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think for yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to act with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Consider:
- Where do you scatter your seeds?
- Do you think the ones that don't take root are wasted? Why?
Theme: We are fortunate the God doesn't think this way. God scatters seeds everywhere. God doesn't worry about that some seeds don't take root or blow away. God knows that some will grow and thrive and that all the seeds are worth scattering.
Read:
- Psalm 145 [2]: 3 & 8: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
- sermon [2]
Consider:
- Where might you scatter some seeds?
Close
Raise me up!
My life has been blessed. Keep hungry my heart for your love.
You, our rock!
Our lives have been blessed. Feed us with your life-giving bread.
Prepare
Try this contemplative approach to reading scripture called lectio divina.
Take a deep breath and find a little silence within yourself. Then:
Read the verse a few times with a listening heart filled with unhurried expectation.
Reflect on this question, "What are you saying to me in this verse today, God?"
Respond by talking to God about your real feelings, thoughts, questions, and doubts.
Rest by simply being with God who knows you and loves you.
Monday
- Psalm 145 [3]: 3 & 8
Tuesday
- Matthew 13:16 [4]
Wednesday
- Romans 5:17 [5]
Thursday
- Romans 12:3 [6]
Friday
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 [7]a
Saturday
- Ephesians 1:7-8 [8]a