Spring is in the air. Many of us will head to local nurseries and choose everything from flowers to vegetables to grow in our gardens. Perhaps you have already begun with seedling planting indoors and are ready to move these to their place at your home. Happy planting.

I, too, have taken to gardening with various results. Sometimes I have an abundance of flowers and other times I fail. What is always true is that the potential in the seed is only realized when I have done my part.

While it is true that seeds grow by themselves in nature, home gardening requires my involvement for success. I need to be a nurturing soul for these tiny plants. Good soil, well-watered seeds, and sunlight are areas that I must concern myself. Then, if I am fortunate, the seeds will take over and do what they do, namely grow.

I think there is a spiritual lesson here. It is certainly true that Jesus often taught in agrarian terms to those who would listen to him. In particular, he tells of the need for good soil for seeds. It is a metaphor for spiritual seed being planted in a prepared or available heart.

He mentions that seed may land on a pathway, another on rocky soil, still another on weed-filled soil, and finally on good soil. Later, he tells of the meaning of the story. In short, every person’s heart is one type of soil with the good soil being the ideal and the other three unable to produce.

The beginning of faith is much like the beginning of a seedling. It is hard to believe that something as small as a seed can become a fully grown plant that produces many more seeds for the next planting season. This is true of faith as well. But, ancient texts, a scarcity of perceptible divine manifestations, and the vacuous offering of staid liturgy in some churches, all contribute to a skeptical soul-searching heart. In other words, if a person believed that such good seed existed, where would they find it?

John Harrigan once said, “Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower.” The church today is entrusted with the good seed. If it holds too tightly to its rituals and norms for the sake of the sacred cow, it will soon find a hand full of unplanted seeds.

Today, I implore my Christian friends to find hearts that are ready for the seed of faith. Truly, we are surrounded by people wanting answers, hope, and purpose. It may be messy. It may take effort. It may cost you something, but the reward is great. Beauty.

For those on the fence, I encourage you to consider the claims of Christianity. Many throughout history have set out to disprove its authenticity only to embrace the transcendent truths it offers.

Find the seed of faith and plant!

Kent Simmons is the pastor of Canyon Community Church in Kingman. He can be reached at kent@canyon-church.com.