On Being a Plow Horse

I’ve written on a number of occasions the importance of sowing seeds, my insights into that gospel on the parable of the sower.  I know I’ve stressed the importance of sowing God’s Word diligently, and letting God prepare the ground, water the seeds, and make them grow.  And I’ve written how most often we go through life and never know what happened to those seeds we’ve sown, crossing the life of another person, and tossing his way seeds of a new life.

But tonight, I’ve thought about that ground we toss those seeds on, those other people.  And I suddenly realized that my thoughts on being a sower were really somewhat prideful thoughts.  I “assumed” I had some good seed to provide another person AND that I was doing some “good” thing.  I just assumed I was the good guy in my story:  lead a good life, be a good example, tell of God’s Word --- and God will take care of the rest: whether people benefit from our seeds or not.  It’s His responsibility.

But is it?

Certainly, providing sun and rain --- grace --- to help any seeds I’ve sown grow is beyond me, but what of the soil I sow on?  What if the soils of the people I meet aren’t ready for the seed?  What if the soil is hard as a rock and hasn’t seen rain in years --- and may never expect it to rain again.  I know people who are so depressed with their lot in life.  And what if the soil is primed with the right nutrients to grow lemon trees, but I am sowing tomato seeds?

What if the soil of some people I meet isn’t prepared to receive ANY seeds I might sow?

This, I think, is something that I don’t think about, for a couple of reasons.  The first is that I don’t think it is my duty to change something so basic in a person’s life, his openness to new ideas.  And the second is that, truthfully, I know that doing so would be a very hard thing, perhaps totally unrewarding work, and work that may take many years of seeing no results.  I know many parents who feel the seeds of their efforts fruitless when scattered about their non-church-going kids.  I know dedicated employees who feel that way about their clueless bosses.  And I myself know of my neighbor who seems will never find Christ, nor ever stop needing my financial aid.  All of these sowers are very frustrated with seeing no results of their efforts, and sometimes think:  why bother?

But remember, St. Monica felt that way about her son, Augustine, too.

Remember the parable of the sower (Luke 8)?  Those who the seed did not flourish in were those who could not focus on receiving and nourishing the seed --- the cares of the world took away their focus.  That is where we might come in, to perhaps ease their cares, to take it as our burden to let them know they are not alone.  In some way, we need to focus on easing their worries so that they can focus on more important things --- like receiving seeds to grow their eternal life.

What we are talking about doing is not sowing seeds on these people, but being plow horses, tilling their soil.  We may feel like we’re going back and forth over old ground, back and forth, back and forth.  And for all we know all we are plowing up is rocks, which will never grow anything.  It is difficult to continue when we don’t see results.  But yet sometimes we feel that little prod, God telling us to continue.  And so, we must.  He has a plan for this field, everyone we meet, but we can’t see it.  And we may, in fact, never see it bloom --- because remember, we are not planting seeds, we are only plowing the soil.

And this is where trust comes in.  Trust that God wishes us to continue the hard work, no matter how useless it seems, AND, trust that He wishes this of us or a reason.

Seeing my responsibilities as being a jolly member of God’s family, tossing seeds for the benefit of others is a fairy tale look at a Christian’s life.  In much of our life we are meant to be plow horses, doing the hard work in the hot sun, and wondering if not us, then who will sow good seeds for this soil --- if ever?  And wondering if anyone cares.

We need to trust and recognize the blessings we have amidst these toils of our lives.  For even the most overworked plow horse gets fed, he gets watered, and is given rest, so that he can continue.  He is blessed.

In our lives, we need to be those diligent plow horses, who know they are blessed.  And even if it seems our burden is an endless one, for people who won’t appreciate our efforts, we must not forget the one who carried our burdens for us --- on a cross.  And He told us our yoke is easy and our burden is light, because He is with us.

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I began my prayers tonight as I usually do, meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.  I only got into the first mystery, however, when the above thoughts intruded, strongly.  And so, I stopped and wrote most of the above, then continued with my rosary and the rest of my night prayers.  And it was only when I went to meditate on tomorrow’s gospel that I saw it was Luke 8, and then added the paragraph on why some seeds didn’t take.

I guess I wasn’t surprised to see that Gospel, after I had already meditated on it.  I think when God wants to tell us something, He tells us --- if we are listening.  I think I’m getting better at that ---- finally.