Words to Live By

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generous heart, perseverance, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Yesterday was such a “shot in the arm” for those of us who are not fond of the winter weather that often upsets plans. As a first day of spring, it was delightful here in the Northeast. Today we are back to predictions of snow and mixed precipitation so I smiled when I read the gospel verse for today’s lectionary readings. It’s something to remember when Mother Nature disappoints.

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance. (See LK 8:15)

Keep On Keeping On

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generous heart, Lenten journey, Luke, memory walk, natural world, perseverance, psalm 1, roots, strength, tenacity, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, the Word

I have come to understand many things about life by living in a rural area and observing the natural world. I remember two specific examples of the same lesson about strength and tenacity that involved tree roots; in both cases the roots triumphed over me. The first experience was early in my days here when it was decided that the grape arbor in the middle of the yard had outlived its usefulness (very little fruit which was not pleasant to eat) and was obstructive of the sight line and path to our conference hall. I decided that perhaps a second chance should be given this old but revered vine so set to digging it up. After a week of hard exercise I yielded to the reality that I would be in China before finding the end of the taproot, even though the vine itself had obviously “given up the ghost.” My second attempt at transplantation came at the edge of the asparagus patch where one of the ever-present maple seed-pods had taken root in the spring. I was astounded later in the season when I tried to dig out the slim, 18-inch slip of a branch and found myself once again on the way to China! How quickly and tenaciously roots had been set down and the seedling had determined to stay. It is now a towering tree and I take example from it quite often.

This “memory walk” began this morning as I read the verse before the gospel which proclaimed: Blessed are those who have kept the Word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance. (See LK 8:15) Wondering what the gospel reference was I went to the Bible and found (of course!) Luke’s version of the sower planting seeds. Having been drawn to the verse by the qualities mentioned – generous heart and perseverance – I was glad I looked because the New American Bible translation (circa 1970) added a stronger nuance of responsibility saying; The seed on good ground are those who hear the Word in a spirit of openness, retain it and bear fruit in perseverance.

So how does this connect with the trees – other than my failure to persevere in the task? For me it all came together in Psalm 1, a template for all the other 149, which speaks not of seeds but sees us as trees being planted in God’s law. It is lyrical and meaningful and I offer it today as a way to pause on our Lenten journey to take stock of our progress and to rest in the Creator’s care.

Blessed are those whose steps are firmly planted on Your eternal law…[They] grow strong as living trees, their roots sink deep and hidden…and through life’s passing seasons they do not cease to bear a plenitude of fruit nor do they fade from giving shade of leaf that covers all with good. 

A Harvest of Perseverance

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fertile soil, generous heart, harvest, hear, keep the word, Matthew, perseverance, share, soil, sowing seed, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, understand

Yesterday someone brought us four large summer squash from their abundance and the vegetable farm down the road had many boxes ready to ship from their crop as well. That’s pretty common around here in the summer. Even if you only have one summer squash plant, you are bound to share in the end as the yield is always heavy. On the other hand, I was trying earlier in the week to plant two small pots of flowers and I encountered lots of stones (not uncommon on our land) and all sorts of ants and other bugs. I’m still not sure if they will survive.

This morning’s gospel is the one about the sower sowing seed in four different kinds of soil: the path (i.e. the road), rocky ground, soil among thorns and rich soil – all indicators of how we hear the word of God. It harks back to yesterday when I talked about open eyes and ears open to hear the word of God. All four kinds of “soil” hear the word this morning but it is only the rich soil that hears and understands the word which yields a good harvest. (MT 13:18-23) Implied is the importance of listening deeply but there’s another additive, found in the acclamation that precedes this gospel. It says: “Blessed are those who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.” That says to me that even if you have the best soil in the world it’s likely you will need to pay attention to all sorts of conditions so you’ll water the crop sufficiently and fertilize if need be. Sometimes it seems as if something I plant will never grow. I kept a plant of mistaken identity for six years because it kept putting out a leaf or two every year. When we transplanted it finally, it flourished into a large hibiscus rather than the hydrangea that was ordered! Clearly, perseverance does pay eventually!

Diving Deeper

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generous heart, language, Luke, perseverance, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, translations, Word of God

Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance. (See LK 8:15)

As I skipped along from psalm to gospel looking for something to inspire me, I quickly read the above citation. I thought it was a fine thought to pass along but wondered about the reference that said “See Lk…” Of course I had to look it up. When I did I found something that was similar but not matching. That led me to think of how language shifts and the necessity of care that translators need to take in interpreting the texts they are translating. Sometimes (although not in this case) there’s no equivalency in meaning for words so we just do the best we can. Occasionally that results in some funny phrases, like the person who was trying to figure how to tell an airport security person in France that she had an artificial hip that might set off alarms. She had found a translation in the dictionary but instead of the hip she wanted to describe the word meant “rose hips” – much more meaningful when talking about tea.

Here’s how I pursued the advice from Luke. I asked myself three questions that start from the presumption that the “word” is the word of God: 1. How do I characterize a generous heart? 2. What is the harvest I hope to see brought to fruition? 3. How persevering am I and how might I increase my capacity for perseverance?  

Reading the statement and the ensuing questions slowly and aloud, reflecting deeply on each word or phrase and listening to the resonances inside me should take awhile. And the “yield” will – no doubt – be interesting!

 

Lazy Days Redux

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activity, balance, disciple, discipline, disciplined life, generous heart, laziness, Luke, motivation, shakespeare, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, to thine own self be true

After yesterday’s post there were comments and conversations that attested to the truth of what had been said about the inner enemy of laziness. Much of what was shared centered around the importance of balance. It would be easy for those of us who are students of a disciplined life to cross the line into rigidity in our actions (like forcing myself to get out of bed – no matter my body’s warnings – because it is the rule). What we need to remember is that discipline has the same root as disciple and that the purpose lies in the heart, not the head. I was reminded of this as I read the gospel acclamation for this morning: Blessed are those who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance. (LK 8:15) Knowing ourselves and our patterns of inner and outer activity and motivation will keep us on the path in a relaxed and ordered way which cannot help but ripple out to good effect on the community. Shakespeare offers what I think is a helpful summary of our musings as Polonius bids farewell to his son Laertes (Hamlet Act 1, Scene 3).

This above all: to thine own self be true. and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man. Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!