Planting Seeds

by Rev. Eric Folkerth

Any time the suggested Gospel reading repeats, we should pay attention. As I noted in our Sunday livestream, we’ve now had three weeks of readings from the *same* chapter in the Gospel of Matthew. These readings have all been about growth and new life, and during the sermons we’ve been noting the following themes:

Week one brought us “The Parable of the Sower” reminding us that “God is the one always sowing seeds.”

Week two saw  “The Parable of the Wheat and Weeds” reminding us that, in this life, we are called to “Grow Together,” and trust that even though pain, suffering and evil are always around, God still guides us.

And finally, last Sunday, “The Parable of the Mustard Seed,” which reminds us that “Good Things Come From Small Seeds.”

In the midst of this pandemic time —as we continue our time of social distancing— it can be hard to make plans for the future. (Both in your family and in our Church). To be totally honest with you, I had initially expected that we would all be back together in worship by now. Maybe you did too.

Had our “numbers” continued to decline, as they were in early May, my strong hunch is that we might have already resumed live worship. But a series of a foolish choices —“early opening” by our state leaders, and too many of us citizens ignoring the need to wear masks and keep social distance— has led us to where we are today.

It is what it is.

So, I keep coming back to the frustration of the “limbo” we appear to be in right now. The science tells us that keeping distance and wearing masks is still the choice for now, and our Bishop, yet again, wisely extended our closing for yet another month (Through Labor Day, to be evaluated in late August…)

And yet, in the midst of this frustrating time, we have these parables about growth and new life. I think we should listen to this message from God. And therefore we will soon mail you a tangible reminder of this Gospel message. 

Within a week or so, we plan to send each of our members a small packet of wildflower seeds. They are “Blanketflower” seeds, to be specific. These are a very popular native Texas wild flower, and the seeds come from a reputable grower in Fredericksburg. I’ve planted these very seeds in our wildflower garden in our backyard.

We encourage you to consider holding the seeds, and planting them later this year. In our area, a Fall planting helps them “over-winter” before blooming next Spring. Maybe you have a small section of your garden that could use some sunset-colored beauty.

Frankly, although we’ve been planning this for a few weeks now, we have all heard the troubling story of anonymous seeds coming to Americans from China. (If you haven’t heard that story, just Google it…)

That bizarre headline caused us to pause about this idea, but we decided to go ahead anyway and simply note the strange coincidence of these events. (Our mailing to you will be clearly marked as coming from Kessler Park UMC…)

But, the metaphors from our Gospel lessons —that God is always growing new life from seeds we can’t yet see— that’s just too rich to ignore right now.

We’re only sending each person a few small seeds, and that’s on purpose as well. That’s a part of the metaphor the mustard seed…that tiny, small seeds can grow new life. And we know that if you choose to be a part of this little “object lesson” that it will literally take months for you to see the results. That’s also on purpose. That’s a part of the point.

Our wildflower garden has taught us so much this past year. While we’ve been sheltered here at home, we find comfort in its lessons, which are *just like* these parables from Jesus. We sowed these small seeds almost a year ago now. Over the winter, we thought they might be dead. In early Spring, we worried that only weeds were growing…or that weeds would choke out the flowers.

But, from mid-Spring through the moment of this writing, we have been blessed with the beauty of the Blanketflowers, and how they regenerate and continue to share the beauty of God’s good earth.

It’s been an exercise in learning patience and hope. It’s been a reminder that good things come to those who wait. It’s been a lesson in how so much of New Life and growth has nothing to do with our actions, and that we are only a small part of how God is constantly regenerating the world and offering us new hope.

These are important lessons during this time of pandemic, friends. While the pandemic has frozen much of our “regular” ministry and caused us to slow down many of the plans for change and growth we had for 2020, it has not, and cannot, stop the Spirit of God.

Trust that God is —even now— sowing small seeds of new ministries and new life that will grow to fruition in God’s time. Use the planting and nurturing of these seeds as a kind of spiritual discipline —an “object lesson” from God— and a way to practice both your patience and trust.

Meditate on how God’s HOPE grows from small seeds.

Even now, God is sowing the seeds of New Life, new ministry, new HOPE…in your life, in your family’s life, and among all of our people at Kessler Park UMC.

Grace and Peace,

Eric Folkerth