This Sunday I am leading the Holy Communion Service at St Andrew’s Church, Clayhidon, at 10.00 am. You will be most welcome to join me.

It was a beautiful sunny evening. The scorching temperatures of July’s heatwave had dropped and there was a gentle breeze. A beautiful table had been adorned with tiny jars of sweetpeas, and our view stretched out across the Blackdown Hills. Birds of all varieties sung out their hearts, and swallows (or were they swifts?) reflected the sun as their bellies twisted heavenwards; a kite could be seen soaring far above. It was the monthly meeting of the Worship and Mission Team. Together we broke bread, shared in a time of worship, and then focused on reflecting on the month gone by and planning for the months ahead. Dare I say it, even the C word was mentioned!

As I walked back in the cool of the day, a member of the team shared with me that she was going to water her pots. It wasn’t just a daily chore for her though, it was a time of reflection and meditation at the end of the day, listening to the ‘rain’ falling from her watering can as she potters about the garden. I was reminded of a snippet of a conversation I had overheard at dinner regarding the need to not just water our pots, but to fertilise them too. After all, we eat and drink, the plants need to as well.

All this spoke to me as I read today’s gospel passage: the Parable of the Sower. It is a story which would originally have been received as a comedy sketch. Imagine Mr Bean if you will: A farmer goes out to sow, and despite the value of the seed, pays no attention as to where it might land. He scatters some here, some there, flinging it left right and centre with complete and utter disregard! Consider how carefully our farmers drill the seed into the soil giving every potential plant the best chance of thriving and bringing in a good harvest. This Sower of the Seed is ridiculous. Jesus isn’t mocking the farmer though, he is mocking himself, within this parable he is saying that God’s love is for everyone, the kingdom is open to all, and he will extend that invitation, regardless of whether it will be received.

This is the parable of the Sower, so we look for his purpose and intentions. What might they be in this profligate and ridiculous action? I am reminded of the Prodigal Father.

Perhaps we should be looking at the seeds. All the seed has come from the same harvest, each has the same potential, and each seeks to grow, but not all thrives.

Or perhaps the real focus should be the quality of the soil the seed lands upon? Which soil was prepared to receive the seed? The footpath certainly wasn’t, growing crops is not the purpose of the footpath, but what about the others? Perhaps the soil had been watered but not fed? Without nutrients within the soil it cannot feed the seeds. If the soil is not being both watered and fed, it cannot nurture growth.

Last night’s meeting may seem a bit… well, a bit of a luxury maybe? Did we really need to waste time eating together? Did we need to spend time in worship when we could have just cracked on with the real business? Last night we were fed, physically, but also spiritually, and as worship leaders we really needed that. If there is nowhere for us to receive worship, how can we lead others in worship? You can’t pour out of an empty cup!

At the beginning of the gospel passage Jesus is doing something extremely important:

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.

Matthew 13:1

How do you take time to feed yourself? Jesus sat by the lake before he preached one of the most well known parables. There is a wonderful story called Jesus Day Off by Nicholas Allan. In the story, somewhat apocryphal, Jesus has the most wonderful day off, but then feels guilty that he hasn’t achieved anything. His Father points out to him that where he did cartwheels in the desert, fountains of water appeared, in fact wherever he did something joyful, those around him were also blessed.

We have inherited a terrible ‘Protestant work ethic’ whereby we feel guilty if we rest. Going to Cirencester for the Clergy Conference took me away from the parish for a week, but I was fed and nourished and have come back inspired in so many ways, ways which will hopefully bless my parishes too. If we take a quick peek at today’s portion from St Paul’s letter to the Romans we are reminded:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.

Romans 8:1

This summer find a way to feed yourself with rich nutrients. Take time to rest, to enjoy the company of others, to be fully present to God. Take a walk on the beach, fix a hammock in the garden, take your time to read slowly through a gospel, find an inspiring podcast…

And look out for new ways to fertilise the soil of your faith once the harvest is in. This Autumn we have hopes to run another Christianity Explored Course, launch a Good Book Club, and create a mini Roots Shoots and Fruits conference using material from the Clergy Conference, and maybe even a day retreat. Keep your eyes peeled for what is to come, but maybe also give yourself permission to close them for 40 winks now and again!

Read today’s gospel passage in full here, and the passage from Romans here.

To find our more about Christianity Explored, click here.

And if you fancy a summer retreat but don’t know where to begin, why not treat yourself to a Retreat in a Box? Visit my shop here.