On the Sower
Doug has said that farming allows him to understand the agriculture-based metaphors in the Bible more completely -- for example, the Parable of the Sower:
Matthew 13:1-9
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
Matthew 13:18-23
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Traditionally, I've heard the seeds specifically compared to the Gospel. The trouble and persecution of the shallow-rooted plant is compared to other students looking down on your faith and denigrating you, for example. I think it can apply to learning from different trials, too.
My particular trial is usually my anxiety and low self-esteem. Last night, for example, I had not done all of the things I had wanted. Actually, I wanted to finish this post before 6 pm so that I could code my video game and work on my JET application essay before going to sleep at a reasonable hour. Then, I could wake up early in order to code today uninhibited by any other distractions. I couldn't manage it, and so I sat there hating myself for a few hours, and I got to sleep at 1 am.
Of course, I had a few rational thoughts. I remembered that it is a sin to hate anyone, even yourself, that I wouldn't hate anyone else for not being productive one day, that I wouldn't accept the things I was thinking about myself coming from anyone else. I wouldn't accept those seeds of wisdom, though, because I didn't want to think about or understand them fully -- the dirt of my heart was rocky. I should be able to learn from these trying times.
Something I've learned is that, over at least two seasons, you can remove rocks and weeds, till fertilizer into soil, plant cover crops, and apply mulch to make infertile soil fertile. I suppose this is a lesson that one can change their heart to be more receptive to God's word.