What type of Dirt are you?

I have a question -- "what type of dirt are you?"  No, this is not a Facebook poll.

I just read the parable of the seeds sowed on four types of dirt - the hard path, the rocky soil, among thorns, and the fertile soil.

So, what type of dirt am I?  I believe it goes with how things are any given day or time for me..  I know I've been the thorny soil for many years in my life -- this is the soil where we allow the everyday items to chock out my faith.  It's easy to do - we can get so caught up with a busy schedule, with what society says, and such.  Faith can easily be put on a back burner. 

Many years ago, my home was filled with lovely items (it still is, but this goes better with my story - so friends, don't call me out.)  Some of the items belonged to my mother and grandmothers, others were gifts, and most were items I saw in the store and I just knew they would look cute in my home.  But one day I came to realized that among all my items on display, I had nothing which spoke of my faith.  I did have a crucifix in my bedroom - but no where else in my home.  When people came to my home, they thought it was nice, but it did not really speak of my deeper self - my faith.

A few years later, when I was finishing my undergrad, Art was in my last semester - the assignment was to have a picture taken of us (this was before selfies were a thing) set with items that spoke of who we were.  I had a stack of my college books closed and turned upside down to say I was finished - I was look to my right to as to be looking to the future and in the background a crucifix with a red rose (St. Therese') was hanging on the wall.  I now look at that picture and can see - that yes my faith was there, but it was in the background of my life.

Today I still have the crucifix in my bedroom, but now also in my main living area along with a picture and statue of St. Therese'.  I find myself looking at both each day - sometime absentmindedly -  others with a purpose.  The crucifix reminds me how great God's love is for us and my statue and picture of St. Therese' reminds me to ask for prayer - for myself, my family but also for this world.  And I would hope/believe if I was taking that picture today, an item representing my faith would be in the foreground.

So, what type of dirt am I?  Jesus explained the parable as such for his disciples.  The seeds are the word of God; the hard path is those who hear the word, but are not open to it - the seeds fall and cannot grow - then birds (Satan) comes and snatch the seed away;  the rocky soil has just a little dirt - when the seed falls here it can start to grow, but cannot grow deep roots because of all the rocks which represent underlying problems such as hardened hearts - when trouble comes - drought, winds, torrential rainfall  - which we all know it does - the seed quickly dies; the thorny grounds allows the seed to start to grow, but then quickly chocks it out - and these are all the trappings of our life; and the fertile grounds - that is when the seed falls and grow and produces a great amount of fruit.

There is one important point - we must choose what type of soil we are and we must choose to receive the seed.  As with the seed - we must choose to hear and receive the word of God.  If we just listen without an open heart and ready to learn it's deeper meaning and to allow it to change our lives - the word will not grow with in us.  Spending quiet time pondering God's word is a good thing - it is allowing that seed to grow deeper roots.

Life is not always easy - storms come through out lives and can challenge our faith.  We can find ourselves is situations where we have no idea of what to do.  These are the times if that seed has grown deep roots we can lean on it - we can know we are not alone and God is there to help us through the storm - if we simple open our hearts to it.

So, what type of dirt are you?  I pray you will allow God's words speak to your heart and that you will be open to receiving it.  I pray that your seed will grow deep roots and be strong when trouble blows.  The one blessed thing is that God allows us to change - he allows us to develop into better dirt. 

Lovely things in my home is fine - but it's not the most important when it comes to my faith.  My type of dirt changes, sometimes I may even go backwards
, but other's I move forward - life is not perfect - we are human - but the love of God is always there for us if we choose it.

Back to the Garden

In my Lenten Reading (The Last hours of Jesus by Fr. Ralph Gorman)  there is entire chapter on the Garden of Gethsemane.  Father takes us through Jesus’ prayer – his plead with the Father to remove this cup – his fight with his will versus the father’s – so much so he sweated blood. 

Early Christians was scandalized by Jesus’ agony – they felt since he was the Christ – there should not have been any issue.  But we need to remember – yes he was divine, but he was also fully human.

As I was praying and reflecting on Jesus’ agony – my husband was listening to the radio and a song came on by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young “Woodstock” – I find it fascinating how God can speak to us. 

When the song got to the lyrics of “and we’ve got to get ourselves back to the Garden” it hit me – like a ton of bricks.  That the Garden of Gethsemane is the new Garden of Eden.

We all know the story of Eve and her fall from grace when she ate from the “Tree of Life” because she believed what the serpent told her.  She followed her own will to be equal to God – and not God’s will who told her she could eat of any of the trees except the “Tree of Life.”  Here in Gethsemane we see Jesus (who is actually equal to God for he is God) struggle with bringing his will in line with the Father’s will.  Yes it was hard – agony – but he overcame his human nature to do as the Father has asked of him.

So I asked the Lord, what does this all mean? What am I to do with it?  For one – it shows us that it’s ok to ask God to take our struggles – but be prepared – the answer just might be “no.”  Jesus showed us that we may have to work to bring our will into line with God – to let go of what we want and follow what God wants.  The Lord understands our human nature is to protect ourselves – but Jesus has shown us we can overcome that nature.  We all have that moment in time when we are faced with a situation that goes against our will - something that it might be so easy to run from and hide - hoping it will just go away - but with Christ's example we know we can face anything and follow what the Lord is asking of us.

Holy Thursday is less than two weeks away – I can say with all honesty – I will see Jesus’ agony in the garden with new light and a new heart.  I am still struggling to let go of my will – it may take me a lifetime to do it.  But with Jesus’ help and the graces he has blessed me with – I am working to “get myself back to the garden.”