Flourishing in perilous times

I remember an old Red Skelton routine in which he imitated a stumbling drunk trying to walk a razor-straight line during a 9.5 earthquake. Skelton’s inebriated man negotiated from point A to point B with aplomb while everything around him was in total upheaval.

Is there an elixir-free way to flourish despite the upheaval of perilous times?

Parable of the sower

The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9) teaches us how to reach our potential despite life’s tectonic shifts.

In the parable, a sower tossed identical seeds over four different soils (Matthew 13:3). Some seeds "fell by the way side," devoured by birds (13:4). Other seeds fell "in stony places," but lacking deep roots, sprang up and withered in the sun (13:5-6). A third group "fell among thorns" which "choked them" after taking root (13:7). The fourth group "fell into good ground," taking root and bringing forth a varying abundance of fruit (13:8).

Each of the differing soils represent our receptivity to God’s will and word. Note the seeds were identical, yet flourished only in receptive soil. Notably, even the seeds which flourished were subject to the same fickle weather of storm and shadow.

Jesus likens the first seeds and soil to those who hear the gospel but allow the wayside of the wicked world to "catch away" that which was sown (Matthew 13:19). The second group represent those who receive the gospel with joy but allow trials or persecution to offend them (13:20-21). The third group represent those who hear the word but allow thorny riches and the deceit of the world to choke their tender testimonies (13:22).

The seed sown in "good ground" represents those who hear, understand and obey the word, bringing forth a varying yield of fruit in abundance (Matthew 13:23).

Yielding to God

As we yield our hearts to God, the roots of our character grow deep in selfless soil. This rich environment powers our potential despite the harsh conditions of life’s wind and weather.

Even rocky soil can be plowed and improved to yield fruit, but the best environment is the one free of excess thorns that choke our character and pillage our potential.

In the process of weeding out our individual thorns, disciples of Jesus Christ may well ask, "Do I permit pride, selfishness or diversion to choke the tender roots of my potential?"