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Jesus told a parable, a story, in Matthew 13. He said a man planted seed in four different kinds of soil, some packed, some stony, some weedy, and some good. The birds ate the seed from the packed soil. The stones could offer no nourishment so the seed there died. The weeds choked the seed there. And the seed in the good soil produced an abundant harvest.

The record of this story doesn't hint at whether or not the man went back and worked up the packed and weedy soils, or carried any stones off. However, I choose to believe that anything is possible where the "seed" is concerned, seeing Jesus said the "seed" is the Word of the Kingdom.

I believe I can ask Jesus, represented by the man in the story, to come back and work the soil of my heart and mind. I believe Jesus will hear my request and begin cutting open things in my life that I have sealed off from the trudging feet of others. I believe Jesus will hear my request and begin carrying off stones that others have tossed at me to hurt me. I believe Jesus will hear my request and begin pulling out of my life the cares and worries and dependencies that choke out my ability to love well. I believe Jesus will hear my request and begin to improve the soil of my heart and mind.

I believe my job is simply to work on my trusting relationship with Jesus, no matter what cuts or heals or leaves my life.

That is the good soil then: my open, joyful, uncluttered response to Jesus Christ and His Word.