PB built some nice little raised beds for our gardening pleasure a few years ago. And they are indeed a pleasure. There are hardly any weeds, and when one does pop up, we don’t even have to bend over to pluck it out. That’s my kind of gardening.

This year we decided to plant green beans in all four beds. We like green beans. My grandfather, who was a good gardener, used to plant Kentucky Wonder beans. When he was in his declining years, we asked him what kind of birthday cake he wanted and he said, “Kentucky Wonder Cake.” I always smile when I see the packets of Kentucky Wonder green beans each spring. However, we plant Blue Lake Bush beans. Maybe someday I’ll request a Blue Lake birthday cake.

This year, our garden boxes have a curious look about them. I’m befuddled. Same dirt, same seeds, same amount of sun and water. Same guy planted the seeds on the same day. So much the same, yet the results are so different.

I find a great truth in this picture. All we can do as we serve the Lord in ministry is put the seed out there. Some seeds take and others just don’t. Jesus told a story about the four different kinds of soil (Mark 4:1-20) — in his illustration, only 25% of the seeds produced a harvest. I think about the two criminals crucified on either side of Jesus — one took hold and the other took offense. So I wonder about the people sitting in church yesterday and all the kids at VBS last week. Which ones have hearts open and ready to receive the good news?

What a relief that I’m not responsible for the result.

What a privilege to have the chance to sow a few seeds.