The land stretches far,
moving beyond horizons on every side,
lying flat, receptive, beneath the great sky.
Broken open by farmers’ plow
prepared to drink in rain and sun
and yield the staff of life.
We call these vast open spaces, these majestic plains, the Heartland.
And I think, as I fly above them in my mind’s eye,
how life’s changes and challenges stretch me.
And how you offer
to use such moments,
to create new, open spaces in my heartland.
Offering as well,
to farm and husband this new land,
breaking open hardened places.
You, always desiring to make me ready
to receive more fully the richness of your life.
You, Farmer,
eager to plant and harvest spiritual food,
in my heartland, to feed the hungry soul.
——
Jesus… told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
Luke 8:4-8
From Heaven at my Door by Juanita Ryan
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