Soul Soil

  I was recently reading a parable of Jesus in the fourth chapter of Mark's Gospel.  It has been referred to as the Parable of the Sower.  Jesus teaches a crowd about what it looks like to receive the Word of God.  In his parable there are four different types of soil.  (1) Heavily trodden, like on a path or walkway (2) Rocky, where there are many stones and little actual soil (3) Thorny, where a variety of rough and life draining plants grow in the soil as well (4) Deep/Rich, where seeds grow well and produce great fruit.  For as long as I can remember, I have heard this parable interpreted within the boundaries of evangelism and outreach.  Those who hear the Word, are the ones who receive Jesus and see great fruit.  And to a great degree this reading of the parable makes sense because of how Jesus actually explains it to his own disciples right after teaching it to the crowds.
  What I found interesting in this most recent read through, however, was that I found myself reflecting back on seasons of my own spiritual journey.  I felt as if the different types of soil reflected my own heart in different seasons.  And I came to see that while this definitely has a classical interpretation, it may actually serve another purpose as well.  It may be a helpful diagnostic on the condition of our souls on any given day of our spiritual journey.  We may find that on some days we are robbed of the joy of the Word because of the work of Satan.  We may find that on some days our neglect of the soil in our souls creates harsh conditions for seeds to grow.  We may find that on some days our distractions, obligations, and overly busy lives generate plentiful weeds, and very little fruit for the Kingdom of Jesus, because any seeds he is sowing are choked by our weedy lives.  And, as is the hope, we will find there are days where our hearts are in alignment with the Spirit's leading, and the soil of our souls is fertile and cultivated and deep.  And it is in this soil that the Word (Jesus) is planted and grows and reaches up and produces great and beautiful fruit.
  The beauty of the parable is of course in its organic nature.  The agricultural imagery and the earthy biological backbone to it all really resonates with life as we follow Jesus.  And the main point is, as stewards of our own souls - what kind of soil are we cultivating?  Are we cultivating it at all?  And do we need to put on some gloves, break out the shovel and rake, and break up, weed or fertilize our hearts so they are better at receiving whatever it is that the Lord wants to plant in us.