Usually, a biblical reflection begins with a passage from the Bible.  This month’s reflection begins instead with an experience.  A few weeks ago, I was privileged to be part of the group who visited the Walker Farm, a remarkable “Field Trip” so fully described by Laurie Windisch in the lead article of this month’s newsletter.  As I thought about all I had learned, I was drawn to consider the parables of Jesus and how steeped they are in nature, farming, and laborers.  So I perused the parables of Matthew, keeping in mind our immersion into regenerative agriculture, the healing of the soil and welfare of the animals.  I found the insights I gained from that experience were steeped in parabolic wisdom. I will share five examples:

            1. Many folks know the Parable of the Sower (Mat. 13:1-9) where some seeds fall on the path, some on rocky ground, some among thorns, and some on good soil where the seeds grew and flourished. What I learned from the Walkers is that good soil itself needs tending as well as the seed.  Just as they listen to the weeds rather than distain them, we might also listen to the rocks and thorns.  They are also part of God’s creation, and thorns could well teach us how to heal the soil to help make it more productive!

            2. Or consider the Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mat. 13:31-32) in which Jesus teaches that “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” Regenerative farming looks everywhere for such mustard seeds – unexpected living things which provide food and shelter for birds and all manner of other creatures.

            3. In the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Mat.18:10-14) Jesus teaches the importance of every single sheep, and that the Good Shepherd wished that not even one little one should be lost. We learn from regenerative practices not only to find the lost, but to care for them that their life might be full.  And not just sheep but also pigs, cattle, chicken and turkeys.

            4. The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard (Mat. 20:1-16) teaches us of the importance of a living wage for all, and redefines fairness. So, with us, we are enjoined to think of fairness to the workers when we consider the costs of buying regeneratively produced food.

            5. In the Lesson of the Fig Tree (Mat. 24:32-35) we are enjoined to learn all important lessons by paying attention to the ways of a tree, just as we later are enjoined to attend to the tree of life that becomes a cross. We learn by listening to nature and beyond.

In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus says to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” I left our visit with the Walkers knowing they were sent to labor so that there may be a plentiful harvest for generations to come!