One of my favorite gospel passages is Mark 4:1-20 a parable of the sower and the seed. I have read and heard this passage often and yet these words take my heart deeper on my journey of Recovery again and again. God desires our friendship and the word of God is a light for our journey of Recovery.
We know the day’s darkness, burdens, concerns, and distractions can keep us from hearing God’s will for us in his life-giving power and grace. What is comforting about this parable of the sower and seed is that it describes Recovery. The various kinds of soil (sand, rocky ground, thorns, and rich soil) are sown in all of us. None of us are exempt from the challenges and difficulties described in the parable.
From age twenty-five to fifty, my Recovery was planted on sand, rocky ground, and thorns. I understood my Recovery cognitively but was unable to engage my heart. I feared that if I allowed my feelings to surface, I would not be able to handle the suffering of my heart. In my fifties, I committed to doing whatever it would take to Recover. I was in a very dark place in my life, but I searched for rich soil and opened my heart to allow the Lord to lead me. I began attending a support group, connected with a therapist who utilized Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, authored a book about my Recovery story https://superhumanbeing.net/, and began practicing mindfulness.
We know the burdens and distractions in our daily lives that make us forget the words of Recovery and God’s love and mercy. We also know how difficult relationships make us irritable, angry, and even resentful and how easy it is to forget the things of Recovery that are the rich soil rather than momentary and passing.
Our human condition is not the last word. Recovery and God’s word offer a path to the wisdom, peace, and joy we long for. As we reflect on the parable and its connection to our Recovery we recognize our desire for healing and renew our commitment to hear and live in unity with ourselves. When we practice this Recovery will bear rich fruit in the soil of our hearts, minds, and lives.
SuperHuman Being
Peace
Larry
email: ljw@superhumanbeing.net
website: https://superhumanbeing.net/