On Seeds and Spaghetti

“The seed sprouts and grows, but he does not know how.” – Mark 4:27 (NIV)

Americans like to take their grievances out on lower-level officials. This pattern has increased as Americans have lost a sense of democratic control over their institutions and themselves. No one really knows how to measure the trouble, but we know it runs deep.

School boards come to mind as do church council meetings. 

Seeds do grow but we really don’t know how. Good leaders nurture soil and let the rest go to God. Parish pastors do wellness calling and circle the wagons, including everyone; they insist that everyone figure out how to belong. School board officials follow Mr. Rogers’ advice and find the helpers, work with the helpers, fertilize the helpers, thank the helpers and ignore the overcooked angry ones.

How do I know this little bit about the ways to grow seeds? By planting a lot of seeds so at least some of them grow. People have called this spaghetti ministry: throw a lot of positive stuff at the wall; some of it will stick. Mr. Rogers’ people will find the sticks of spaghetti and tend them till they are cooked just right. Search for a connection—or provide a connection—rather than complaining about the lack of one.

I have achieved very few of my goals. I have remained a religious imposter, a career vagabond, an ideological contortionist, a bipartisan compromiser, a political pontificator, a twig gatherer, chic peasant, vine grower, pig breeder, egg gatherer and daring dilettante. I dance a spiritual jitterbug. But gardening is my controlling metaphor for ministry. Build the soil. When we are long gone, the soil will still be good.

Prayer
Great Planting God, help us thrive. And if we can’t thrive, let the soil grow around us. Amen.

About the Author
Donna Schaper is Pastor at the Orient Congregational Church on the far end of Long Island, New York. Her newest book is Remove the Pews: Spiritual Possibilities for Sacred Spaces, from The Pilgrim Press.