Everyday, I drive the same route to work. And everyday, I pass a little patch of land. It’s a garden, maybe a quarter acre in size. Right now, it lies empty with only old stalks on top of weeds. It’s brown and dead. But soon, I know the farmer will plow the land, plant seeds and begin to grow vegetables. It will erupt into a green explosion of life. I’ve seen it happen year after year. I’ll see him out there early each morning with a hoe in hand, weeding. He’ll spray to kill insects. And he’ll water when it’s dry. The farmer will practice patience and planning — and will be rewarded. In the late summer, he’ll harvest an amazing crop — just like he has for the past 17 seasons.
Down the road there’s another patch of land that lies fallow. It is full of twisted weeds and is full of brush. It has the potential to be as productive as the other garden. But it’s not. It just sits there, producing nothing.
We’re all given our own little plot of land called life. Some are granted richer soil. Some have a space that is full of rocks. I’ve seen people with rich soil produce nothing but weeds. And I’ve seen people with rocky soil grow amazing crops.
It’s about what we do with what we’re given.
I thought about that when I passed the garden the morning. What am I going to grow this season? How will I use this gift I’ve been given?
Marshall, this is truly thought provoking! While I aim to sow into others lives, there is yet more to do. I accept the challenge to break up the fallow ground. I’ll continue to plant and or water and I expect that God will give the increase! Thank you for sharing a little of your heart with us. Blessings to you and yours!