Bob DeLong, Kid’s Hope and Houston reVision Mentor, Joy and Genesis Class member
Matthew 13: 1-8 (NIV)

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying “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.”

Reflection:

Without the context of other parables and lessons from the life of Jesus, reading the parable of the four soils could easily be interpreted to mean something very different than what Jesus intended. As we are spreading God’s love and serving others, should we search for those whose hearts are most likely to be changed, who then will multiply our work by helping others? Should we not bother with those who seem less likely to be moved by our actions to also become followers of Christ?

For much of my work life, I was the finance director for some large social service agencies. Funding sources and oversight boards wanted to see performance measures and service numbers that showed “the success” of programs. Directing funding toward groups most likely to be positively impacted by assistance was often an important part of program design. Funding sources were almost always pleased with our ability to leverage funds and get a big bang for the buck. I worked long hours and usually went home proud of what we had accomplished. I generally believed that I was doing my duty as a Christian to help others at work. I spent very little time providing other services to those in need.

When I stopped working, I searched for something different to do with my time. I was no longer in a position to directly impact large numbers of people in need, but I wanted to find opportunities to serve. Growing up, I had seen from my parents how you could live a life devoted to service to others. Still, I had gone through most of my adult life with very little one-on-one interaction with those most in need. As I got much more involved in the church, I discovered from my regular Bible studies and participation in more personal services to others that I had some troubling social beliefs and stereotypes. It became clear to me that I thought some of my neighbors, who probably needed God’s love the most, were somehow less worthy of my help. My parents would not have been proud.

I now understand much more clearly that in the parable of four soils, Jesus was explaining what keeps us all from filling our hearts with his love, and perhaps we should look in the mirror when contemplating the true meaning of the parable. Other familiar parables—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son—tell us very plainly that God desires to bring God’s love to the most difficult to reach. Programs at St. Luke’s have allowed me to get to know people with whom I never would have interacted.

  • For nine years, I have been a Houston reVision mentor for a troubled young person, who at age 14 was given a 12-year prison sentence for a non-violent crime. As a young adult felon, who had to grow up in a prison environment and is now a part of the LGBT+ community, she will face some extremely difficult road blocks when released in the next three years.
  • For six years, I have mentored a young man, whose mother sought a better life for him and snuck him into the country as a child. The mother was deported, leaving a teenager with no supervision or support. He has struggled with long-term personal relationships but graduated from high school and is now enrolled in Houston Community College. He expects to receive legal status to work and drive later this year.
  • My first Kid’s Hope mentee was a third-grade Muslim boy who spoke very little English. He lives near Gethsemane Church, and we talk regularly. He is now an honor student in high school and is planning to go to college. 

Through the ministries of St. Luke’s, someone planted a seed in me that transformed the way I live out my faith. Spreading love to anyone, anytime, is a full-time activity for all Christians. As Mother Teresa put it so simply and beautifully, “do ordinary things with extraordinary love.” Beyond the simple and easy ways to spread God’s love, I suggest trying to find ways to serve those who you feel least inclined to help. It has helped me pull a few logs from my eyes.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for your unending love and for making it freely and abundantly available to pass on to others. Forgive me for sometimes judging others and failing to fulfill my responsibility of spreading your love to ALL of my neighbors. Thank you for surrounding me with other followers, who also want to better understand your teachings. Help us to learn from each other. Help me to listen, especially when I hear thoughts different from what I believe. Give me guidance on how to reconcile those differences, and then be willing to share with others. Lord, extend my faith that even when I fail to see the fruit of my planted seeds, I may have assurance that every inch of soil overturned will lead to a harvest someday.  Amen.