Friends

Farming must be the most frustrating occupation going. First you have to clear the land, then plow, then fertilize, then plant, and then the worst of all, wait for the crop to come in. It just runs counter to our desire for instant gratification. By golly, don’t those slow plants know that the most important thing is the outcome not the process? Would you have the patience to be a farmer?

The season of Lent is our time of spiritual farming. It is an opportunity for us to go over our spiritual landscape and do some cleaning up for growth. Sometimes we have to clear out old assumptions, patterns of behaving, or expectations. Then we have to plow, to prepare with discipline, the fresh soil of our soul to receive new seeds of human potential. What about the outcome?

Mahatma Gandhi points out, “Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory.” That sums up the spiritual farming we do in this season of inner exploration and growth. The Lenten disciplines of pop culture, giving up beer or chocolate, have nothing to do with a serious effort to discipline the growing fields of our hearts.

It is in the midst of this effort that we experience the Beloved’s grace and blessings. The fruit of our labor is harvested in random acts of kindness and bold ministries energized by the unending crop of Love. The effort of Lent is not limited to 40 days — it is limited only by the amount of time we have to draw breath.

“We plow the fields, and scatter the good seed on the land, but it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand; he sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain, the breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain. All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above; then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all his love.” Let this be our Lenten anthem.

I invite you to join with me in an earnest effort to plow the fields of our hearts and souls and scatter the good seed of Lenten discipline. Let us revel in this continuing effort that results in the harvest of the good gifts of God’s Love.

Joel t