SEEDS, PLANTS and SOULS

0 SOUL OR SOIL?

Ideas and concepts can often be made analogous
to the way a plant forms and grows.
The authors and characters of the Biblical books
made frequent use of such analogies -
not surprising,
since most of them lived in rural surroundings.
They wrote or spoke
to be understood by countryfolk
who were closely involved
in the sowing, cultivation and harvest of crops for food.

There have been many changes
since those days of biblical Palestine.
One is that many of us are not so concerned
with how and why a plant grows,
so that the illustrations lose their impact.

However,
current concern for the environment
has renewed our interest in things biological.
We want to have a greater understanding
of the whys, hows and values of nature
on which we physically depend.

As a forester,
it has been my job
to understand plant  processes,
particularly in tree seed.
But even so
I had not really looked
at these spiritual illustrations in detail.
I once showed a missionary friend my work
at a seed centre in Honduras.
While I was trying to explain
the scientific principles and techniques involved,
he took it all in from a very different point of view,
relating what he saw and heard to the Scriptures.

Afterwards
my friend suggested I might like to do the same,
and then give some talks at the local church,
relating what I knew of seeds and their growth into plants
 with their use to illustrate spiritual ideas in the Bible.
 I did so and it was fascinating,
giving my work a broadened meaning.

This account
outlines some of the parallels that came to light.
I had not been inclined
to put my findings into print.
However,
current interest in the environment has developed in such a way
that nature itself is at times elevated to the role of a god,
instead of showing us the true nature of God.
So I thought they might be worth printing!

It is tempting
to extend the analogies further
than what is implied in the Bible.
Where I have done so,
the Christian must let God's seed growing in him or her
be the judge if it is correct or not!

Maybe
you do not consider yourself a Christian.
Perhaps you started reading thinking
that this was a biological treatise,
and soul was a misprint for soil?!
Maybe you are wondering
what on earth the Bible and spiritual ideas
have got to do with you?
If so,
please keep on reading and digging deeper.
I hope you will find
that the answer does lie in the soil -
your soul!

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