Do you know where the term “broadcasting” comes from? It’s actually a farming term. When the farmer goes out with his seed sack over his shoulder and begins throwing (casting) the seed widely (broad), then he is broadcasting.
Little wonder that the agricultural term was borrowed early on by radio to refer to spreading your signal (message) just as far as you were able.
That’s what’s happening in Jesus’ parable of The Sower (Mark 4:1-20). Do you remember this marvelous story? The Sower has some tough luck, because it seems that almost everywhere he casts his seed leads to a disaster. Birds steal it, or the ground is no good, or it’s actually a thorn bush instead of soil. In fact, 75% of the time The Sower gets it wrong.
But, wait, he still has 25% of his seed left. And all of it lands in good, rich soil and produces a huge harvest.
So, what do you think? Was The Sower deliberately casting his seed in useless places? Did he say, ‘Hey, that looks like some hard, unproductive ground over there. I think I’ll just waste some of my seed.’
Or is it more likely that he was paying attention to the one and only job he had been given? Broadcasting. It wasn’t his concern about where the seed was going. He was only told to go out and spread it around. It turns out that’s our job, too.
The bad news is that when we do that alot of seed ends up producing nary a thing. The good news is that when it lands in the right spot it produces bunches.
What is your “seed?” What is that one thing that you do better than anyone else? How is your unique calling lived out?
Once you know the answer, then you can begin broadcasting with abandon. And don’t worry about where your gift is landing. The truth is some people will ignore you altogether. And the truth is that many people will “get” you and be blessed by you. And you by them. Bunches.
GTC 10/29/09