I never put that poor hyacinth in the ground. I never watered it. I totally forgot it was there. Yet here it is, still in its plastic three-inch pot with a faded price sticker on the side—but full of life now, with a sturdy little spike of bell-shaped blossoms reaching up toward what light there is.... Some other power took care of that small life all these months, or it had power in itself that survived my neglect. This is a revelation.
I have always loved to grow plants. I have gardened most of my life. Due to illness, I was suddenly unable to do it. What I discovered in the neglect of the yard and garden is that it grows anyway. I did manage to plant 3 butternut seeds in the neglected garden. I did nothing else except watch the plants grow and harvest 30+ delicious squash.
Thank you for these reminders about our work as sowers and our attitude towards our work of being sower. When I visit the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, I am always drawn to Van Gogh’s drawings/etchings on display of the sower more so than the finished painting. Yes, the painting is bright and beautiful, and the shading of grays and black in his drawings and preparations for the painting always remind me more of the work and attitude of the sower. Your words, as always, are a blessing, friend.
With these days of uncertainty in the world and the ever changing winter weather, these words were exactly what I needed this morning. "You do what you can do as generously as you can....because you're not in this alone." Also as you reader Joel said, "Worrying is a counterfeit form of prayer." I could go on and on but those I read in big bold print! Thank you Barbara. I look forward to hearing about your garden this spring. Stay vigilant and stay warm my friend.
Thank you so much. I especially needed this reminder where my writing is concerned. I have a novel out on submission now and I must remember that it is newly scattered seed. Time for me to trust the earth and cheerfully move on.
Exactly what I need right now! I love to garden (playing in the dirt) and the abundance of miracles experienced over the years are a booster shot for my faith/trust. Thanks so much from very cold Indiana.
Oh man. "You do what you can do as generously as you can. Then you go home with an empty sack and a light heart, because you’re not in this alone." That is a good word right there. I will never read this parable the same way again. Thank you.
Thank you for this fresh view of the sower parable. Maybe the seeds that ended up in the rocky soil were for the birds? Nothing is wasted with God. I also am a gardener. Many a plant I thought was dead popped its pretty head out of the compost pile —which I seldom turned.🙃
Sadly, a reminder again for me in today’s awful times; it takes a death (both a metaphor and a reality)for a resurrection to happen.
Worrying is a counterfeit form of prayer.
Those words were written for me.
And the words about coming home with an empty seed sack and letting others (Another) participate.
Thank you.
Thank you doesn’t begin to convey my gratitude—but I guess it’s enough. Ditto Joel’s comment.
Signs, winks everywhere...
life, force to be reckoned with!
We sow, water, watch.
I have always loved to grow plants. I have gardened most of my life. Due to illness, I was suddenly unable to do it. What I discovered in the neglect of the yard and garden is that it grows anyway. I did manage to plant 3 butternut seeds in the neglected garden. I did nothing else except watch the plants grow and harvest 30+ delicious squash.
Thank you for these reminders about our work as sowers and our attitude towards our work of being sower. When I visit the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, I am always drawn to Van Gogh’s drawings/etchings on display of the sower more so than the finished painting. Yes, the painting is bright and beautiful, and the shading of grays and black in his drawings and preparations for the painting always remind me more of the work and attitude of the sower. Your words, as always, are a blessing, friend.
With these days of uncertainty in the world and the ever changing winter weather, these words were exactly what I needed this morning. "You do what you can do as generously as you can....because you're not in this alone." Also as you reader Joel said, "Worrying is a counterfeit form of prayer." I could go on and on but those I read in big bold print! Thank you Barbara. I look forward to hearing about your garden this spring. Stay vigilant and stay warm my friend.
Deepest gratitude for these words from Minneapolis, Minnesota, where the ice has been thick and dangerous. I exhaled a little reading this. ❤️🩹🙏
May that thick ice melt soon—with thanks to all who took their warm hearts into the streets for the rest of us to see. ❤️🩹
An incredible message of hope in the midst of so much disappointment…….
This morning's post was warming to me. As I sit looking outside at the harsh winter around me, your writing brought order and assurance to me.
" Keep on, plugging on" comes to mind, with a gift of faith,a- lighting.
Thank you.
Mary, in VA.
Thank you so much. I especially needed this reminder where my writing is concerned. I have a novel out on submission now and I must remember that it is newly scattered seed. Time for me to trust the earth and cheerfully move on.
Exactly what I need right now! I love to garden (playing in the dirt) and the abundance of miracles experienced over the years are a booster shot for my faith/trust. Thanks so much from very cold Indiana.
A very good gardener said to me one day when I marveled at her abundance, “Anne, everything wants to live.”
This is a theological tome on hope. And it speaks, rather it sings. And as always, I am so thankful for Barbara Brown Taylor.
Oh man. "You do what you can do as generously as you can. Then you go home with an empty sack and a light heart, because you’re not in this alone." That is a good word right there. I will never read this parable the same way again. Thank you.
I have learned a similar lesson with feeding the birds. A "messy" garden in winter is a good bird feeder. They do not totally depend on me!
Thank you for this fresh view of the sower parable. Maybe the seeds that ended up in the rocky soil were for the birds? Nothing is wasted with God. I also am a gardener. Many a plant I thought was dead popped its pretty head out of the compost pile —which I seldom turned.🙃
Sadly, a reminder again for me in today’s awful times; it takes a death (both a metaphor and a reality)for a resurrection to happen.