Here in Eastbourne much of the local economy is centred around water, whether it is beaches, boats, fishing, etc. Recently the United Nations commemorated World Water Day. The theme was ‘Water and Gender’ and the campaign slogan ‘Where water flows, equality grows’, and the observance highlighted the disproportionate impacts of water scarcity on women and girls. It called for equal leadership in water related decision making.
Water is one of, if not the most important commodities and its relevance has been highlighted particularly over the last few months from the wet winter to a dry spring, and the availability of water. Water is refreshing, but the UN assess that more than a quarter of women and girls globally do not have access to clean water. In 53 countries where there is data they spend 250 million hours per day collecting water, more than three times that of men and boys. 1000 children a day die globally because of dirty sanitation.
Very often we pass over facts such as these, thinking what can we do about them? Today, God’s world has suffered down to human acts. Of course that includes all of us and it has made me think of the parable of the sower. Jesus uses an agricultural metaphor to explain why people react differently to the Gospel. The seed represents the word of God and the four soils represent the condition of the human heart.
Some seeds fall on the path and are immediately eaten by birds, this represents those who hear the message but reject it or do not understand it. Some fell on rocky ground, where the seed sprouts quickly but has no deep root. When the heat of the sun, trouble or persecution hits, it withers. There are those who are quick and excited to receive the Word of God but fall away when the moment following Christ becomes difficult. The thorny ground is when the seed grows but thorns and weeds choke it out. The worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires of worldly things, take priority.
Jesus asks us to act as good soil, where the seed takes root and produces a bountiful harvest. Those of us who hear the word, accept it, and apply it to our life, bearing spiritual and physical results. We all need to try to act and speak up much more, wherever Christ leads us for the good of others, helping to produce a better harvest.
Thanks and God bless Matthew