Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown. … But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and persevering produce a crop. (Luke 8:8 & 8:15)
In The Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler, a post-apocalyptic book, Lauren grows up in a privileged community behind gates. Her family becomes aware of the effects of the apocalypse outside their gates when Lauren’s brother, Marc, is abducted into the slave trade. Marc becomes an evangelical Christian. After his rescue he is a good man within the Christian world but ignores his sister’s needs because she isn’t Christian. When Lauren meets Jesus, her empathetic heart loves all, changing the world one person at a time.
After understanding the parable of the soils, we cringe at identified rocks or thorns that can be removed from our hearts. So I was surprised how many commentaries say this parable is about being saved – that only people with hearts absent of all rocks and thorns will make it to heaven. In The Parable of the Sower, Marc has rocks and thorns in his heart because of his tremendous hurt. Though he and Lauren are at different levels of maturity in their Christian walks, they are both deeply loved by God.
Father God, I’ve been hurt in life, so I come to you for help removing the rocks and thorns in my heart. Help me hear your word with a heart planted in good soil so I can do your work effectively. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
If you have a room full of Biblical scholars, I believe that there can be many interpretations of a verse or parable in the Bible. Not everyone sees it the same way. I believe that the stones and thorns represent the hurtful things that we experience in our lifetime. I feel like I am a very forgiving person. If someone tells me they are sorry I feel that it is easy to forgive, keeping in mind that the apology is coming from their heart. It is when you are hurt and you do not receive an apology that it becomes more difficult to forgive. I try very hard to keep my heart free of this kind of problem. I believe that it weighs a persons heart and mind down with negativity. However, I feel that most people probably do have some stones and thorns in their hearts. I know that I have had hurts that have been hard to let go of. Sometimes it is hard for me to sort through it and I am not quite sure how to tackle the hurt. Sometimes it takes years of prayer for me to make it right. Don’t most people go through this? So, how is it possible that you do not go to Heaven if you have stones and thorns in your heart? Maybe when we are face to face with Jesus we have that o[[opportunity.
You are right. I don’t think we will be completely clear of stones and thorns until we meet Jesus face to face. Although people interpret Scripture in different ways because we come from different places, I wish people wouldn’t be so judgmental. It turns others off to Christianity. I thought thorns and stones were things I did, but you’re right thorns and stones can also be hurtful things we experience that keep us from God. Although it is initially difficult for me to not forgive when an apology is asked for and not given, it provides more of a trust issue which makes it difficult for me to love. I would think most people find it difficult to forgive and love when someone wrongs you and/or someone you love and doesn’t apologize, especially when an apology is asked for.
I feel if you have to ask for an apology, then when it is given, it is not heartfelt. There are exceptions to that. The person that hurt you did not do it intentionally and has no idea how hurt you are. When something is blatantly wrong though, I feel that the person knows they wronged you and should say I am sorry without you asking. Some people are brought up in an environment where no one apologizes, no one feels sorry for they things they have done or said. That type of person pushes people away because they are always right. It is sad when a person can not be accountable for what they do or say.
People have told me I’ve hurt them when I didn’t realize it. My apology is heartfelt, and in the two situations I can think of at work, the apology has come with tears. It is different when someone blatantly hurts you and feels no sorrow. It is sad and seems hopeless, although I know it’s not. I continue to pray.