I woke up in the night a few days ago with this passage from the Christian Bible running through my mind. This is from the New International Version.
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
I've loved this particular Bible story for years, though I didn't grow up reading the Bible. It reminds me to do my best to be fertile soil for the seeds that I want to grow in my life. It's tempting to become hard, shallow or distracted. But living a life of intention takes attention.
This parable also reminds me to cast seeds of love and justice, not knowing where they will land, if they will take root, if they will multiply. However the act of scattering is worthy work for my soul regardless of the long term outcome.
May this Easter be a time of renewed hope and abundance for our world.