Surprise! I thought we might do something a bit different this morning. Using paper and a writing instrument, take a moment to create your faith timeline. You can start with your birth or baptism or simply the first moment you felt connected to God and then, chronical important moments that connect to your faith in some way.
An easy starting point is to consider moments at church that were significant – like celebrating the sacraments, participating in youth group or bible studies, or even sermons that have stuck with you. You don’t have to stick to things that happen at church or even positive moments. You can include moments of doubt. Times when you stepped back from church. Times when you changed churches. Times when you were angry with God. Whatever feels significant for you in your journey, include in the timeline you create.
Use this time to reflect on your faith journey and what it means to you. Use the paper to provide a tangible illustration of that journey. Don’t worry, you don’t have to put this up on the wall when you are done. You can if you want, or this can only be for you.
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When we reflect on our faith journeys, I suspect that we all realise there are moments when we were not fertile soil.
· Perhaps there are times when we don’t get it? When we wonder what is the point of going to church and praying to God? In these moments, our lives are like the seeds sown on the path, where our faith is snatched away by birds.
· Perhaps there are times when the message feels too hard. Jesus says a lot of things that are uncomfortable and difficult. If we struggle to trust God’s grace and abundance in the face of conflict, we may choose to take a break from these challenges. Seeds sown on rocky ground have the same problem.
· Perhaps there are times when life gets distracting. Society suggests priorities that don’t necessarily work with lives of faith. This is like seeds sown in thorns.
We all have moments when we are not fertile soil. The point of the parable is to remind us that the Sower, that God, doesn’t stop sowing. God doesn’t run out of seeds. God’s love is abundant, and God will continue to cast seeds all over knowing, trusting that when we are ready, those seeds will take root and produce.
This abundance is offered as grace and hope. This is also a challenge to us. Like the Sower who continually casts seeds everywhere, we are called to cast seeds, to proclaim the Good News everywhere, to everyone, trusting that it is the goodness that matters.
When we recognise that our lives have included moments when our experiences are akin to the path, rocky soil, and thorns, we can be more accepting of those living in moments like these right now. When we remember God’s loving patience and understanding with us, we can offer the same to others. When we know and trust God’s abundance and care in our lives, we can do the same for those who need it now.
God doesn’t stop casting seeds in this world. God’s love is unending. May we embody that love for all those who need it today. This we pray as we sing (VT) 789 Be a Sower.