We often overlook preparation and patience as we rush to find answers and solutions. And yet, Jesus reminds us of the profound importance of these two traits through the parable of the sower.
The Necessity of Worked Soil
When we are building or growing anything of value, preparation is critical, because the sower reaps the best results in soil that has been deliberately worked to accept the seed, the soil does not work itself. Every single day, we are given the chance to take the necessary steps to make ourselves ready for the next seed and the next opportunity that comes our way. Through His parables, Jesus tells us time and time again that we must be ready at any given hour for any test.
The Long View of Spiritual Formation
To maintain that state of readiness, we must be bolstered in our faith. Being a husband and father, I must ask myself: how can I expect anyone to do something that I will not do myself? By remaining faithful and consistently expressing my love, my hope is to provide a clear example for my children and my family to follow. Experience matters here, just as it does in work and all other aspects of life: you simply cannot show up one day and expect an outcome that is only delivered by years of hard work. True preparation requires a much longer view, a view that keeps an eye on the seed rather than just the crop.
The Danger of the Fast Sprout
But as with any agricultural pursuit, the true rewards of life are seldom, if ever, immediate. They demand both the preparation and the patience to allow for genuine growth. We hear in the parable about the Sower’s luck with the seed that sprouted the fastest. The rocky and unprepared soil left it no room to grow deep, and it quickly sprouted. That quick growth is scorched and burns out because it lacked the time for roots to develop and take hold. Therefore, we must prepare ourselves to allow deep roots to anchor us in our beliefs and in our works long before we are able to bear fruit.
The Subtler Lesson in the Upper Room
Following Jesus’s telling of the parable to the crowd, we see a subtler lesson of patience on display in how Jesus instructs the Apostles. He provides them with a deep lesson regarding both why the parable was told and what it actually means. He does not expect them to know the answers immediately. I believe His only expectation is that they have a desire to know and to grow deeper in their understanding.
We must continue to live out our faith and remain true to what we have been called to be – whether that is as parents, spouses, religious, friends, family members, or just a kind stranger. We must prepare ourselves with a genuine desire to receive the opportunity to grow and learn. We must have the patience to sustain our preparation. And above all, we must quietly await the seed of opportunity.