Just a Small Seed

7-7-77 is a day I will never forget. My husband, Don, had worked years on his degree. He had made job changes, we had moved multiple times, and Rebecca, our firstborn, was 2 years-old, and it just so happened that on that memorable date he completed his doctoral requirements and officially became Dr. Don Phillips. I walked around the University of Oklahoma campus on that very hot day and prayed as he defended his dissertation before his committee, the final requirement. Graduation took place the following spring which he did not plan to attend. I prevailed, however, because I wanted some Pomp and Circumstance! I had typed a lot of papers!

I love OU’s seal which appeared on the front of the graduation program. I use it here after having gotten the okay from OU to duplicate it on my blog. I appreciate their response!

The face of the farmer sowing the seed was drawn to resemble the first president. He took half of his first year’s salary and bought, planted, and watered the first trees on the campus. The seal presents a great picture of the process of learning, that of sowing seed in anticipation of a harvest.

Jesus used that imagery when he told a parable about a farmer who went out to sow his seed. Some of the seed was trampled on, some fell among thorns. However, “still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” Those who heard the story needed an explanation, so Jesus explained the meaning. He said the seed was the Word of God. The seed on good soil stands for those who hear what He has said and retain it, “and by persevering produce a crop.”

I think of several lessons from this simple story that Jesus told to people who understood the farmer’s way of life. The seed is very small yet there is life in it to reproduce and make a great crop. It must fall on good soil, though, and be watered and cared for.

I think of this story as part of the answer to Paul’s instruction to “be filled with the Spirit.” We can ask ourselves—what does he mean by that? One answer could be to plant some seeds! Jesus said His words are spirit and they are life!

At a time of a great loss, I learned how grief can immobilize you. When I got up each morning, I couldn’t move forward. I needed to get ready for work, but I could not put one foot in front of the other. On my dresser was a small ceramic dish that I had received as a door prize at a women’s retreat. In it were small cards with verses of scripture. A daily practice evolved for me—a way to get going with my day. I lifted the lid of the dish, took out one or two cards, read the verses, then read them over and over. I began to feel a little better each time and I began to move, to take some steps. The words had life. They gave me power.

One thing about seeds is the process takes time. We may read a chapter in the Bible and find it interesting. I just read the story of Joseph in Genesis. It’s one of my favorites. Talk about entertaining! But then the leader of the study made applications that inspired me and helped me see deeper truths.

Or sometimes we can read the Bible and not feel anything. For a while. But as we reflect, the light bulbs come on and we are moved deeply by what we read.

It is a process, but there is life there. Think of Jesus speaking to his disciples when He called them. He said simply, “follow me,” and they left their profession and followed Him. There was power in His words.