At Sunday’s Gathering we had an opportunity to share our own and hear others’ take on five of Jesus’ parables. I found comments on his story of the mustard seed (Mark 4:30-32) gave me new ways of looking at it.
Rob was impressed that the mustard seed is the tiniest of all seeds, and wondered why does it have to be so small? He concluded that in this world everything can loom so large – so insurmountable. Yet one tiny seed of faith or spiritual thinking, if allowed to grow, can take over and push out feelings of helplessness. Jill remembered how her sister helped her through a difficult time by drawing a picture of a garden, and labeling a flower in that garden with every good idea Jill had. Pretty soon Jill had a beautiful garden of God-inspired thoughts.
Mindy added that it takes our attention – nurturing, watering, weeding – to help the seed grow. Bob reminded us that we shouldn’t pull out the seed and check its growth, that it takes patience, trust, and expectancy to see fruit. And if we’re committed to tending this thought-garden, from the humblest beginnings this seed of spiritual understanding grows to embrace and bless the world. What potential for good! It encourages me to work at it!
We want you to know that we are continuing our Gatherings at the Des Plaines Society building at 2:00 p.m. through the fall, on the following dates, which will show up on the blog calendar very soon:
• September 12
• September 26
• October 10
• October 24
• November 7
• November 21
We’d love to have you join us!
I also loved the insights shared for the parable about the sheep knowing the shepherd’s voice. At night many flocks are together in a sheep pen for safety. In the morning their shepherds come and call them. Each sheep knows the voice of its own shepherd and follows him to breakfast.
Each sheep is focused on his own relationship with his shepherd, not on what other sheep are doing or where they are going. And everyone ends up in the right place. All very orderly.
That we would be so focused on following our Shepherd, and not distracted by other things, other people.