Shirin McArthur

One Sabbath, while Jesus was going through some grain fields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. —Luke 6:1

Dear Siblings in Christ,

I recently purchased heirloom seeds for my winter vegetable garden. It’s still too early to plant them here in the Sonoran Desert, as daytime temperatures are well above seedling comfort zones. However, I’m ready for action when the weather cools further.

This focus on seeds reminded me of a conversation I had this summer. A group of us, led by Saint Philip’s parishioner Ani Weinman, were discussing Jesus’ parable about the exuberant sower who spread seeds everywhere, even on gravel and hard-packed pathways. I was reminded of how the wind becomes a profligate sower in my garden when I let the lettuce bolt.

In fact, the gravel areas around my garden plots were peppered with small volunteer lettuce plants last winter. Rather than pulling the young plants the moment I saw them, I waited until they had produced half a dozen small leaves. Then, I pulled the plants, composted the roots, and kept the leaves for salads.

I suppose I could have let those volunteer lettuce plants grow and mature, but eventually there would have been no navigating around that area of the yard. I had plenty of larger volunteer lettuce plants growing within the beds themselves. I didn’t need more lettuce. But still, I honored the seeds’ desire to grow and thrive. I also honored the profligate sowing by the wind.

God is profligate in our lives. There is such extreme generosity in the wealth of seeds produced by every plant, the number of raindrops and snowflakes that fall from the skies, and the constancy of the sun that keeps this planet warm enough for us to thrive. (Are we endangering this delicate balance? Yes. Is that the subject of this post? No.)

Today, I want to celebrate God’s abundance. I want to give thanks for the ways in which seeds are sown abundantly, life is generously supported, and we can thrive amidst God’s profusion, just as Jesus and his disciples did.

Where are you noticing God’s generosity today?

Peace,

—Shirin

A version of this message first appeared on my blog on September 16, 2024.