Nightflying: The Entertainment Guide

SEEDS

     Have you ever planted a tree? What about a veggie or flower garden? We can actually take the time to put seeds into the dirt and cover it. But we plant “seeds” in the form of our words or deeds, every day.
     While I was at a meeting last week, I began to think about how we actually plant seeds with folks we meet. Some of them fall in warm, moist, fertile soil and grow to become fruit trees or other plants. Writing a song, for example, is like planting a flower.
     Everything we do, every day, has some effect, good or bad, on everyone we contact. Nowadays, it’s not just by phone or mail, but by e-mail. Most of the time, we’re not aware we’re doing it, but the effect is the same whether we know it or not.
     What kind of “seeds” do I plant with my words, and in the way I treat others? The best kinds of seeds are what I call “spiritual” seeds. Those are the kinds that take root in people’s hearts and grow to give fruits, and seeds that in turn, get planted in other hearts.
     There’s a story in the Bible. Jesus told about a man who goes out with a bag of seeds, and strews them and scatters them everywhere. Some fall in the rocky soil where there’s not much chance for them to sprout and grow. Some fall on thin but fertile dirt. They sprout and grow, but die pretty soon. But some fall on rich, fertile soil, and they sprout and grow, but the weeds come up and choke them and starve them, and they die, too. But some fall on rich, fertile soil and grow into a big crop, and make lots of grain or veggies or other tasty and nourishing treats.
     Nothing else is said about the guy who scattered the seed. I guess he never knew what happened to the seed he sowed. As I looked out the window, I could see oak trees and hickory trees growing, and I knew they were probably not planted by people. Most likely, they grew from an acorn or a hickory nut some squirrel hid away for the winter and didn’t ever go back and dig up. But they grew into huge trees that drop acorns and hickory nuts every year for new generations of squirrels.
     What kind of squirrel am I? What kind of squirrel are you? Think about what kinds of seeds you scattered yesterday or today. Were they kind words that encouraged and inspired others? Did you or I practice random acts of kindness?
     I don’t know how many copies of NIGHTFLYING are printed and distributed, and I know it is read on the internet. How many will read these words? How many will take them to heart and start practicing making encouraging words and little deeds of kindness? I have no idea. But thanks to Peter Read and his magazine, and his encouraging words to me, I’m strewing and scattering these “word seeds” amongst a lot of people, just like I have every month for over 20 years. I believe some will take root. Maybe you’ll like the idea and start looking for ways to help others by word and deed.

View Bob's previous column.

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