Last Sunday worship at First Presbyterian was one of those services that really affected me. It’s funny how worship works.  I bet it didn’t affect others in the same way but that’s okay.

The ministers are doing a sermon series on “parables with a twist.” Patrick Johnson preached a sermon about the Sower and his seed in Matthew 12:1-23. He didn’t preach the normal interpretation which I was glad. He said he added to that typical interpretation.  He spoke about the three soils and how they are different. 

He said about the hard, beaten down soil is when we go through life with a suit of armor.  This armor is our defense to the world.  “We wear armor, so we are not beaten down.”  I have lived like that before.  I think we all have.

The second soil is rocky.  He calls it the “season of newness, and real joy and enthusiasm, but it is untested.”  Falling in love, a new job, a new friendship or a new town is rocky ground.  I’ll say more about this later because I believe this is the ground under me right now.

The thorny ground is the “long middle stretch of life moist of us know best.” It’s when we are swamped and busy like many of us are. He says it isn’t a bad place to be but sometimes the kingdom of God (I always say Reign of God for Kingdom, is too masculine) gets lost. 

Finaly there is good soil.  It has been amended and tended to and things will grow. Why is it good soil? Patrick said, “It happened because the ground kept getting broken open, because things were added, because things die in it, and something new took root every time.”

The twist in this parable is not the soils but “the wild and reckless Sower.” The Sower throws seeds everywhere – on the path, the rocks, into the thorns and into good soil.  This story “is about the wild goodness of God.”

I am on the rocky soil.  The newness of turning 65 is upon me.  It’s a little strange being on disability because unlike pastors, I have to retire.  This means going on a Medicare prescription plan.  The Presbyterian Church has a good disability package.  I had Medicare health insurance, but Blue Cross Blue Shield was my secondary insurance.  Now I’ll have to choose a secondary.  However, I was able to remain on the church’s prescription plan which was excellent.  Unfortunately, I now must go on a Medicare plan which I imagine won’t be that generous.

The bad news is, since my birthday is October 5, I must pay a deductible starting in October.  Then when January rolls around I have another deductible.  They really should prorate it but I’m not in charge.  I take several expensive medications, so I am trying to stock up.    

Yes, there is newness to being retired but it will be a rocky start.  The roots are shallow and I hope they hold.  I’m not sure Patrick was thinking of retirement as being rocky soil, but it is especially in this day and age. Fortunately, Michael  is still working but when he retires, will we have enough money for the rest of our lives?  I think so but I don’t know for sure. ‘m trying to remember that God is “wild and good.” 

Whenever I worry, I remember the moon.  It shines in the darkness, and the darkness never overcomes it. Just like that moon I will shine in the darkness. It will work out and I will end up in fertile, rich soil. Thanks be to God.