Planting Seeds
Joyce Rioux
June 14, 2009
How many of you remember making crowns and necklaces with dandelions? Picking a bouquet of dandelions for your mom? Never really seeing dandelions as weeds but rather something of beauty and awe? We had such innocence and wonder.
Do you recall that moment as a young child when you came across a dandelion in its mature state? –that big white puff ball -the excitement and marvel that welled up inside; your eagerness to run up to it; pluck it from the earth; and let out a big breath of air sending the seeds all about; watching in delight as they magically floated here and there to land along the ground and begin a new life.
Today’s sermon is just that –the planting of seeds…
A few month’s ago, Janice planted a seed (a thought or idea if you will –a seed that made the light bulb over my head turn on)… she asked if I would be interested in preaching while Pastor Dennis was occupied with Annual Conference duties. (I actually read somewhere that a sermon takes 25-30 hours to prepare. 25-30 hours from initial thought to completion! Considering today’s technology –that number could be reduced to a 15-20 hour range. Still –a substantial time commitment. 15-20 hours which gets condensed into what someone might call the length of an elevator speech. The travel time from the bottom floor to the top floor of a tall building to pitch your idea or share your thoughts. Now don’t get too excited, today’s sermon will not be delivered on the express elevator; we may be stopping at a few floors along the way. Just the same –I concur with the guesstimate of prep hours for a sermon and can understand why I was asked to preach at this time.) Now I’ve preached before and actually enjoy the process –the opportunity to contemplate the words and stories within the Bible, to gain new insights/new associations/new meaning, and to have the opportunity to share all of that with you. Actually an enjoyable process for me.
A few week’s ago, Janice planted another seed … she indicated that this would be Scholarship Sunday AND we’d be receiving new members into the church. For me, this sold the idea. As many of you know (and if you sit next to me, you really know) I have been going to school –pursuing my Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. Those that sit next to me have been witness to some of my study habits. I actually bring my schoolbooks and homework with me on Sundays. I sneak an opportunity to read in the morning while the choir is practicing or jot down sparks of ingenious thoughts during worship time (sorry Pastor Dennis you may have thought I was taking copious notes on your sermons but instead I was practicing the art of multi tasking –listening, writing, and thinking) –thinking of thoughts that would pull my class assignments together; to give that just-right feeling or polish to my papers. Somehow, this works for me. You see, church (for me) offers a source of comfort, clarity of mind, freedom from distractions, and a sense of peace. For those of you joining the church today… this is something I wish for you that within this place you find an opportunity for solace, quiet reflection, and newfound spirit. For those of you receiving a scholarship today… education is something that I value and as a matter of fact… something my whole family values –As I said I’m going to school for my doctoral degree, my husband is going to school for his Master’s degree, our oldest daughter is in school for her PhD, and our youngest just completed her Master’s degree. Each of us have found pleasure in learning, enjoyment in new challenges, and in turn experienced personal growth… this is my wish for each of you; that you will find the same and discover passion in learning.
So here I am… Janice planted a few seeds.
The next seed was planted as I reviewed the Lectionary. For those of you not familiar with the lectionary; it is a listing of scripture readings appointed for Christian worship on a given day or occasion. Thematically the lessons for this Sunday addressed faith/faithfulness, power, strength/weakness, growth/seeds, and God’s care. Looking at the selection, I was quickly drawn to our gospel lesson today -Mark:4 26-34. It includes 2 parables –the 1st –the parable of the harvest which describes the process of planting, waiting for the growth and harvesting the grain. –the 2nd –the parable comparing the kingdom of God to a mustard seed. –the smallest of the smallest seeds having the capacity to grow into a shrub big enough for birds to nest in it.
And it got me thinking, aha another seed… it got me thinking about God’s kingdom coming to fruition in our community of faith… thinking about growth… thinking about complacency… and thinking about the choices we make and the impact of those choices, it got me thinking about a modern day parable (actually reminds me of a parable from Matthew –so please allow me some liberties) that I came across in one of my classes…
Entitled a Gardner’s Tale by Camara Phyllis Jones. It goes like this…
When my husband and I bought a house in Baltimore, there were 2 large flower boxes on the front porch. When spring came we decided to grow flowers in them. One of the boxes was empty, so we bought potting soil to fill it. We did nothing to the soil in the other box, assuming that it was fine. Then we planted seeds from a single seed packet in the 2 boxes. The seeds that were sown in the new potting soil quickly sprang up and flourished. All of the seeds sprouted, the most vital towering strong and tall, and even the weak seeds made it to a middling height. However, the seeds planted in the old soil did not fare so well. Far fewer seeds sprouted, with the strong among them only making it to a middling height, while the weak among them died. It turns out that the old soil was poor and rocky, in contrast to the new potting soil, which was rich and fertile. The difference in yield and appearance in the 2 flower boxes was a vivid, real-life illustration of the importance of environment.
Environment?; it got me thinking, hmmmm -another seed …
What about the gardener? Didn’t the gardener have a responsibility? Couldn’t the gardener have made a difference in the production of these two flowering pots? Shouldn’t the gardener have given the seedlings the nutrients, time, and care to ensure similar opportunities for growth? Shouldn’t the gardener have acted on commission (or commitment) as opposed to omission (or complete absence)? Shouldn’t the gardener have helped?
Hmmm… you ready? Here comes another seed….
What type of gardeners are we within our faith? What if those two pots represented our own Christian faith? What type of gardeners are we? Are we the committed gardener or the absent gardener? Are we willing to put forth the energy and time to provide access, to have a voice, and to seek opportunity –to open doors? Are we willing to put forth the intentional commitment, to toss away assumptions that others will rise up and take care of things, and to bring forth new messages –to open minds? Are we willing to believe in ourselves, to accept others, and to offer hope –to open hearts? As a congregation are we a growing Christian community of faith in action. Sound familiar? A growing Christian community of faith in action. Our mission. Are we fulfilling our mission?
Say it with me… A growing Christian community of faith in action.
Aha… do you hear it? Another seed… A seed for you to sprout and bloom. To spread faith in action. Amen.