POST #8 From Miracles to Emmanuel – The Unplanted Seed
Once upon a time, an unplanted seed was poured into a bucket with thousands of other seeds. The farmer stirred the seeds with his hands and nodded in approval as he placed the bucket on a sturdy shelf.
The unplanted seed sat quietly in the bucket feeling full of potential. It looked around at all the other seeds, and the bucket seemed to jitter as they all swelled with feelings of expectancy.
One day when the sun was shining bright and the morning breeze was ticklishly warm, the farmer carefully took the bucket from the shelf and carried it out into the field. He stopped before rows of freshly plowed earth and scooped up a handful of seeds from the bucket. The unplanted seed watched in horror as the farmer tossed the seeds on the ground and began covering them. He watched as handful after handful was scattered and the seeds disappeared beneath the soil.
The unplanted seed wedged itself within the ridges of the bucket and decided right then that it wouldn’t allow the farmer’s hand a chance to scoop it up and toss it away like the other seeds. Finally the last of the other seeds were sown, and the farmer carried the bucket back to the sturdy shelf.
Days passed and every morning the unplanted seed climbed to the top of the bucket and looked out at the field. One morning there was a terrible storm with sheets of rain and flashes of lightning. As the seed slid to the bottom of the bucket, he was glad to be dry and safe.
The next morning as he looked out across the field, he noticed little shoots of green coming up out of the soil. He wondered what happened to the seeds. He shuddered as he imagined them breaking open under all that dirt. He was glad he had remained in the bucket.
The unplanted seed was excited each morning to observe the changes of the field. The shoots grew into whole plants that budded. Then one morning he couldn’t believe all the bursts of color he saw. The field had flowers and fruit popping out like colorful surprises.
The unplanted seed watched year after year as the cycle of seeds were sown, plants grew, and flowers and fruit erupted. He decided that his favorite time of all was the season when he could enjoy looking at the bright colors and smelling the delicious produce. But soon enough, that season would change and that’s when harvesters would come. He watched as seeds were pulled from the fruit and plants and was always delighted when his bucket was once again filled with thousands of seeds.
Each year during planting, the unplanted seed always tucked himself securely out of the farmer’s reach. Over time, he became more comfortable with his decision not to be planted. What had once felt like fear now felt like wisdom. Surely staying safe and dry was better than being buried, remaining whole was better than being broken, and the comfort of his bucket was certainly a deserved way of life.
More time passed. More seeds than the unplanted seed could ever count came and went. Instead of one bucket, there were now huge bins of seeds and buckets galore. Instead of one field, he looked off in the distance and saw plants, flowers, and fruit as far as he could see. He thought back to the first time he had wedged himself inside the bucket to avoid being planted. There was only one bucket of seed then and only one field to be planted.
One morning as the unplanted seed began to climb to the top of the bucket to look out, he realized he had difficulty reaching the top. He thought back to the first time he had entered the bucket. He remembered how he had felt full of potential. He realized he felt none of that now. Once on the rim of the bucket, his strength gave way and he toppled over onto the sturdy shelf.
He realized his once plump seedy body was only a shell of what it once had been. As he laid on the shelf, he looked out to see the fields covered in ripe, sweet smelling fruit that sparkled in the warm sunshine.
That’s when the farmer entered with gloved hands and a shovel. He was glancing around the shelf obviously looking for something. He moved the bucket and saw the shriveled unplanted seed. With a sad expression, he carefully picked up the seed. “You were made for more – a whole harvest.”
“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels – a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.” John 12: 24-26
Likewise, the Christian life is not meant to be spent sitting safely in a bucket.
My next post talks about what’s next in the life of our family.
