MONDAY, July 18

Mark 4:1-20. Listen! A sower went out to sow…Let anyone with ears to hear listen!

In the parable of the sower Jesus explains that preaching is similar to sowing seeds. Some seed will fall where birds devour it. Other seed will fall on rocky ground where it cannot root deeply enough before trouble or persecution destroy it. Some will fall among the thorns where the lure of wealth and worldly cares will choke it. Fortunately, some seed will fall onto good soil and will mature into a fruitful plant. The sower cannot know the destiny of each seed; the sower’s only responsibility is to scatter healthy seed.

A friend who is a recovering alcoholic was asked by her brother-in-law to speak to his wife, my friend’s sister. My friend agreed to do so, but only when she felt that her sister might respond positively. The timing must be right—given time, rocky or thorny ground can become fertile. Meanwhile, my friend said, the best advertisement for sobriety is the witness of a sober life: no more late-night drunken conversations with friends who block her number, no more family fights about alcohol, no more cars going off the road, no more nights not remembered. My friend’s visit with her sister will have no immediate expectation of renunciation. Her job is to sow the good news without knowing the destiny of the seed.

PRAY for the Diocese of Peshawar (Pakistan)

Ps 41, 52 * 44; 1 Samuel 24:1-22; Acts 13:44-52

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Sow without knowing the destiny

Jul 18, 2011 at 6:06 am

Written by Chris,

As I am called to witness to those in need and many to whom I am not sure what my sharing will bring, I do wonder about the outcome. This is a timely message for me. It is about the sowing.

...

Jul 18, 2011 at 8:05 am

Written by Lois,

It is a good meditation. MY brother is lving with me and I am encouraging him and his g/f in their steps to recovery. I am not sure what they need to hear but I am trying to talk about it and see what outcome they want. I am also the supplier of it at this time and it is quite costly to me and my family as they have no where to go.
God bless all with additction burdens.

...

Jul 18, 2011 at 9:12 am

Written by Mary kier,

I. Have an elderly Mother who battles depression. As I am chronically ill and have limited physical resources dealing with the constant neediness has been wearing me down. My SD brought it to my attention that i have to set boundries. Compassionate love doesn't mean listening to her spin her wheels. I told her the other day that this was becoming too much for me. I took her to the doctor and he recommended a good psychologist. So far she makes excuses not to go. I felt a burden come off my shoulders. Learning how to love someone within boundries so as not to hurt yourself is an mportant lesson for me.. She is a woman of faith so the seeds i had to sow were of boundries.

...

Jul 18, 2011 at 12:11 pm

Written by Keith,

Lois and Mary I will pray for you both today. Being a caregiver can wipe you out in so many ways, not the least of which is financial. I think God pours out special blessings on those with open doors and open hearts. Things *will* get better. Your short tales have inspired me this day.

...

Jul 18, 2011 at 12:17 pm

Written by Noel of July Day by Day,

To Chris, whose comments had trouble getting online:I'm glad you are experiencing that empowerment to face that stress comes from those quiet times. You're right, it's hard not to spend all of our time panicking and running (go, go, harder, harder) rather than stopping, sitting, breathing, taking in, replenishing our spirits and getting strength for the journey.

As for today's meditation, I agree that boundaries are so important. In may case, when I blocked my friend's number from her home--not from her office--she might have been angry at the time, but when she got sober she contacted me right away. Setting a boundary was not the end of our friendship. But until she got sober, I was not a real person to her. No one was. Boundaries were a crucial part of her healing realization that she is not the only person in the world, not the only person in pain. And that it is each person's job to put oneself on a path of transformation, for no one can do that work for another.

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