Behold, a sower went forth to sow, and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured them up. Some fell upon stoney places, where they had not much earth, and forthwith they sprung up, but because they had no deepness of earth, and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them. But others fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 12:3-9 KJV)
The sower/seed parable above is affirmation of the familiar saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words.” It is replete with images that reveal more than words alone can. We also find such analogical images in and through stories, myth, poetry, plays, film, music and song. Whichever way we experience pictures, even those in our memory or imagination, they have power to evoke feelings, associations and meaning, and may even reveal truths and wisdom to live by.
The sower/seed parable conveys a reality that knowledge/truth may be received, understood, or not. Its wisdom is contained in the image of seeds that must fall on fertile ground in order to root, sprout, grow and bear fruit. It presents a literal, as well as a figurative reality, to ponder and maybe to inspire us to be that fertile ground.
The fertile ground is none other than our imagination, and our intellect’s capacity for seeking a deeper understanding. Some of us, at times, are disposed to be fertile ground; some of us learn through our life experiences, and perhaps have cultivated our capacity to receive what there is to be learned. Some of us, at times, for a variety of reasons and circumstances, are not fertile ground, and therefore the seeds of truth or wisdom do not to take root, sprout, blossom and bear fruit.
Is there a way to cultivate that capacity in ourselves and others? I believe so, and is a feature we may practice and develop or guide others to. Is it not the task of teachers, parents, clergy, or other trusted sources, to offer seeds of wisdom and knowledge to “fertilize” the imagination and intellect to receive seeds of practical, cultural, social and moral import for living a life of goodness, truth and beauty, also aware of the common good.
A true teacher, spiritual or otherwise, may prepare fertile ground through providing experiences which exercise, develop and expand the imagination and intellect (critical thinking), while being vigilant for and respectful of individuals' freedom to discover on their own. Lively lessons and experiences engage minds, hearts and hands and impart a capacity to develop, expand and deepen the ground of imagination, inspiration, intuition and intellect.
Such seeds will not be left to “scorch” or “wither,” as the Biblical parable suggests. Rather, they will live on wordlessly, "speaking" to the feeling, thinking, willing—with ears open to hear.
Thus are our ears are opened to hear, our eyes to see and fertile ground prepared.
