The greatest challenge today

I was reading through Jesus' explanation of the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:18-23. He is explaining it to his followers. Some people who hear the message about the kingdom have it snatched away by the evil one. This is the seed scattered along the path. The rocky ground is those who receive the message, but they quickly fall away. The seed among the thorns are those who hear the word, but it is eventually choked out. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it... and produces a plentiful crop.

N.T. Wrights says he was once trying to work his way through a maze, and found himself lost. He finally had to resort to getting the map out. First he had to find out where along the path he was, then he had to determine the correct course to find his way through. As in any good maze, there were several paths that did not lead to the way out, but one that does.

So I began to wonder to myself, where do I currently find myself in this parable? Something seems to be choking out my understanding, for there is no fruit. What, then, is the path I need to take.

It actually took me a few minutes to recall my thoughts from this very morning. There is so much hate and animosity among people today. Well, okay, there is so much... RIGHT IN MY OWN HEART! I am disappointed in people. I dislike people. I don't want to talk to or be around people. There, I said it! [Although, this doesn't mean 'all' people]

Everyone seems so opinionated. Including me. And it seems the more I talk to or listen to people, I am bound to eventually find a point of disagreement and I lose hope that we could have any type of meaningful conversation. Ultimately I just don't even want to talk to anyone. It seems easier that way.

And... what's that about the easy road?? So, yes, the greatest challenge today (at least for me) is not only to not hate people, but to actually love them (or even like them). I'm not sure if that is possible for me. At least not on my own. This may take some supernatural help.

Lord???

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Matthew 13:18-23

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

 

NOTE: I actually wrote this in early February. I decided to share it today because... I don't really feel this way right now. Not that I'm any less socially awkward, but I'm much more open and peaceful. I feel freer. I'm not sure what or when things changed. I'm not complaining.