Good Soil

While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." Luke 8:4-8

At a conference this weekend I heard a speaker reference the parable of the sower. He brought to light that one translation of good soil is broken soil.

This reference hit me hard. What does it mean or look like to live in a state of broken soil?

From the parable we know that this broken soil has had it's torn out, it's weeds ripped up and has been tilled so that it is no longer trampled on. It is the perfect place for seeds to fall into and put down their roots.

Am I living in a state of broken soil?

I am incredibly greatful that this weekend was able to be in the presence of people who do live in a state of brokenness. What strikes me about the strong role models I have around me is that they are not afraid. The are no strangers to pain or tradgedy, but they do not live as if they have been crushed by it. They are intimate with the joy and peace that comes from God, but they do not shy away from grief and mourning. They live in this place of confidence in God that allows them to enter into the hard places and to experience all the joy that we have in Christ.

I hope that one day I will recognize how complete my life in Christ both because of what has been ripped out and because of what has been planted. My prayer this weekend has been, and will continue to be, to be brought to this place of brokenness.