Planting seeds

Mark 4:30-32 (NRSV)

30 He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

I love this parable about planting a teensy tiny little seed and having it grow up into a huge shrub.  This could be because I love mustard.  I love yellow mustard, dijon mustard, spicy brown mustard, champagne mustard, mustard mixed with pickle relish for my hot dogs and my new favorite - dijonaisse. If it says it is mustard, chances are really good that I will like it.  

It could also be that I love this parable because I believe that is what all of us are supposed to be doing all day every day - planting little seeds in people’s hearts.  When we are out and we are treating every human as if they are of great value to us, we plant seeds about Christians.  When we are careful in our social media posts to focus on the positive instead of the hate, when we disagree without name-calling or insults, we plant seeds about Christians.  When we behave in ways that show the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, we plant seeds about Christians.  And when we nourish those seeds with loving care they will continue to grow and change hearts and minds.

We also plant seeds about Christians when we do the opposite of these things, and unfortunately those seeds have sprouted very well indeed.  A seed will always grow toward the light and if it cannot find the light in one direction, it will grow in another.   Way too many people find Christianity as it is practiced publicly to be judgmental, hypocritical, and basically about as far from loving one another as is possible.  And while we might say, “Not all Christians,” that’s not going to change anyone’s mind.

Tiny seeds, even when it seems like they are not getting a lot of attention, tend to grow if left where they are planted.  How many times have you seen a tree growing up through a crack in the pavement?  When a seed is given half a chance, it will grow toward the light, like the oak tree in a parking lot.  We need to be really careful about what seeds we are planting, because if a heart cannot find the light in the behavior of the Christians it meets, it will look for it somewhere else and grow in that direction instead. 

God of grace and love, we are grateful for the seeds of love that have been planted in our hearts.  May we always be careful to plant only the seeds that come from the fruit of the spirit, and may those seeds may grow always toward your light. Amen.