So how does one go about paying attention to
what matters most? This is what is often referred to as “spirituality,” taking
the time to pay attention to the internal issues of life, the heart-soul stuff that
deals with the depth of life, the “below the waterline” concerns. Paying
attention to spirituality is what ends up providing stability and ballast and
depth. The result is that when the storms of life blow, there’s enough internal
weight to weather it and end up not just functioning but flourishing. So how do
you do it, this thing called spirituality?
Jesus’ Story of the Four
Soils: Jesus tells a fascinating tale about
spirituality and the importance of depth in life. “A farmer went out to plant
some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath,
and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with
underlying rock. The plants sprang up quickly, but they soon wilted beneath the
hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow soil. Other
seeds fell among weeds and thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades.
But some seeds fell on fertile soil and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty,
and even a hundred times as much as had been planted, a harvest beyond the
farmer’s wildest dreams.” (Matthew
13:3-9)
The dynamics of spirituality (that is, paying
attention to what really matters, building depth into life that produces
fruitfulness and fulfillment) are quite profound in this story. “The parable of
the sower and the seed has a lesson of the highest importance. As a lesson-book
Christ has opened it before us to represent the spiritual sowing.” (Nichol, p.
1114.) The four soils represent four different approaches to life with four
very different outcomes.
Spirituality is a journey,
not a destination: Before we discuss the
dynamics of each soil and how it applies to our spiritual lives, please notice
something very important. The fact that Jesus uses an agricultural metaphor to
describe the spiritual life indicates that spirituality is a process not just
an end result. It is a journey, not just a destination. When you plant a seed,
it takes time for it to grow to full maturity. The seed doesn’t turn into a plant
overnight. The plant does not produce fruit immediately. It is a process, a
very dynamic and active process.
“The germination of the seed represents the
beginning of spiritual life, and the development of the plant is a beautiful figure
of growth. As in nature, so in grace; there can be no life without growth. The
plant must either grow or die. As its growth is silent and imperceptible, but
continuous, so is the development of the spiritual life. At every stage of
development our life may be perfect; yet if God’s purpose for us is fulfilled,
there will be continual advancement. Sanctification is the work of a lifetime.”
(White 1941, p. 65)
The implications of this picture are quite
profound. First, it means that you and I need to be more patient with ourselves
as we’re on this journey of transformation! Wholeness doesn’t happen all at
once. We must give ourselves permission to grow over time, not immediately. The
seed doesn’t become a mighty oak tree overnight! Be patient!
Second, it means that you and I need to be more
patient with each other! We need to cut each other some slack and not make
judgments about each other’s growth or what might appear to be lack of growth.
Just because the seed hasn’t popped out of the ground to become a seedling yet
doesn’t mean it’s not growing. The growth is in a more invisible stage. We must
be very careful about judging other people’s spiritual growth.
That’s why Jesus’ story of the four soils
describes God as a Farmer who is planting and gardening. The individual seeking
spiritual growth must collaborate with the Divine. That is what the word “spirituality”
is about; taking intentional steps to cooperate with Divinity in the work God
is doing in our lives.
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