The Story
Matthew 13 The Parable of the Sower
Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."
Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."
Spring, 1971, was an exciting time in my life, for I would graduate from Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, Illinois, and move to my first Call. I sat in the crowded gymnasium waiting for the service to be over so that I could open the envelope that would determine my future and the future of my family.
I slowly slid the document out of the envelop – revealing information bit by bit.
It was no joke – I was principal, teacher of the upper grades, SS leader, coach and organist – it was a Divine Call. We packed up our apartment and moved to New Minden – 50 miles due east of the holy land of St. Louis. We settled in the “teacherage” and the Board of Education walked me over to the church balcony to hear my organ prowess.
I felt like Moses arguing with the Lord – there was no way I could play the organ. The men wanted proof – easy enough as I sat down on the bench and gave them the worst rendition of “What Child is This?” that they ever heard – They shook their heads as we walked down the stairs – “What will we do for an organist?
Since the formation of Saint Johannes Evangelisch Lutherich kirke von Missouri, Ohio, und under staten on December 31, 1846 – the organ had always been played by either the pastor or teacher. It seemed as if I wasn’t fit to lead at St. John’s.
However, they reasoned a Divine Call was – Divine – they found an organist and I was once again a leader.
I slowly slid the document out of the envelop – revealing information bit by bit.
- St. John Lutheran Church and School – well that was good – I was confirmed from a St. John Lutheran Church – it was a good name – a good start
- New Minden, Illinois – where was New Minden? I lived in Chicago – where was New Minden? Oh well, Illinois was good – Moms and Dads could visit.
- Teacher – good – I could do that!
- Grades 5, 6, 7, 8 – that must be a typo – Nobody would expect me to teach four grades in one room. I read it again – yep – looked right – grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 – oh well, I could do that – I guess – I was a trained teacher!
- Principal – you got to be kidding – principal? That would take some prayer.
- Coach – basketball, softball, track – OK – someone was joking with me.
- Sunday School teacher and lead Sunday school teacher training – so where is the real Call?
- Organist – OK, now I know it was a joke – I saw an organ once – it was big.
It was no joke – I was principal, teacher of the upper grades, SS leader, coach and organist – it was a Divine Call. We packed up our apartment and moved to New Minden – 50 miles due east of the holy land of St. Louis. We settled in the “teacherage” and the Board of Education walked me over to the church balcony to hear my organ prowess.
I felt like Moses arguing with the Lord – there was no way I could play the organ. The men wanted proof – easy enough as I sat down on the bench and gave them the worst rendition of “What Child is This?” that they ever heard – They shook their heads as we walked down the stairs – “What will we do for an organist?
Since the formation of Saint Johannes Evangelisch Lutherich kirke von Missouri, Ohio, und under staten on December 31, 1846 – the organ had always been played by either the pastor or teacher. It seemed as if I wasn’t fit to lead at St. John’s.
However, they reasoned a Divine Call was – Divine – they found an organist and I was once again a leader.
I made it through the school year to mixed reviews – more people were impressed with me then wanted to run me out of town – having a pretty wife who taught the other four grades and a brand new baby boy didn’t hurt either.
We would walk around town – all ten blocks and chat with the people. We would visit Rufus Hoffman’s General Store and buy our canned goods off the shelves, our meat from a butcher block and our eggs from the crate near the milk. We would buy our gas from Sprehe’s garage and eat at the Blue Room – we made sure to patronize every business in town – all three of them. The fourth one was the tavern run by outsiders – I didn’t go there much – it was just a bar. We even made sure to visit Hattie’s front porch – the site of the New Minden Post Office until the government took it away.
As a church leader – I wanted to be more like the people I was to lead. So one day it dawned on me that all of the villagers had vegetable gardens. I knew more about playing the organ then I did about vegetable gardening. But I was determined to fit in and have a garden.
So one Saturday in July I grabbed a shovel and announced to my wife that “I am going to make a vegetable garden.” She responded, “That’s nice, dear, don’t hurt yourself.”
I walked out into the backyard looking for a place for this garden. The temperature was approaching 90 degrees and I looked for a cool spot to dig.
I found the ideal location – the shade under the Hackberry tree offered a nice cool spot. After an hour of trying to turn over Southern Illinois hard pack clay, I had a 3’ x 4’ garden ready for seeds.
I walked into the house and announced, “Garden is ready – I’m going to Rufus’s for some seeds.”
“That’s nice, dear, don’t hurt yourself.”
We would walk around town – all ten blocks and chat with the people. We would visit Rufus Hoffman’s General Store and buy our canned goods off the shelves, our meat from a butcher block and our eggs from the crate near the milk. We would buy our gas from Sprehe’s garage and eat at the Blue Room – we made sure to patronize every business in town – all three of them. The fourth one was the tavern run by outsiders – I didn’t go there much – it was just a bar. We even made sure to visit Hattie’s front porch – the site of the New Minden Post Office until the government took it away.
As a church leader – I wanted to be more like the people I was to lead. So one day it dawned on me that all of the villagers had vegetable gardens. I knew more about playing the organ then I did about vegetable gardening. But I was determined to fit in and have a garden.
So one Saturday in July I grabbed a shovel and announced to my wife that “I am going to make a vegetable garden.” She responded, “That’s nice, dear, don’t hurt yourself.”
I walked out into the backyard looking for a place for this garden. The temperature was approaching 90 degrees and I looked for a cool spot to dig.
I found the ideal location – the shade under the Hackberry tree offered a nice cool spot. After an hour of trying to turn over Southern Illinois hard pack clay, I had a 3’ x 4’ garden ready for seeds.
I walked into the house and announced, “Garden is ready – I’m going to Rufus’s for some seeds.”
“That’s nice, dear, don’t hurt yourself.”
The bell on the door announced my entrance into the empty store. The sun shinning through the window highlighted the dust floating in the air. My steps echoed off the wooden floor. Rufus looked up from his paper and greeted me, “Guten Tag, Herr Leher.”
Rufus always called me, “Herr Lehrer” after all, I was a respected church leader – a teacher – an imparter of knowledge!
“Afternoon, Mr. Hoffman,” after all, he was an elder and the mayor of New Minden as well as owner of the General Store – he deserved my respect.
“What can I do for you?”
“Need some seeds.”
“What kind?”
“Vegetable”
“Got um on the rack over there – 10 for $1.00”
10 for $1.00 – that was fantastic! Since I didn’t know how many seeds I needed for a 3’ x 4’ garden, I could start with the 10 packages and get more if I needed them. This would be a great day!
Rufus always called me, “Herr Lehrer” after all, I was a respected church leader – a teacher – an imparter of knowledge!
“Afternoon, Mr. Hoffman,” after all, he was an elder and the mayor of New Minden as well as owner of the General Store – he deserved my respect.
“What can I do for you?”
“Need some seeds.”
“What kind?”
“Vegetable”
“Got um on the rack over there – 10 for $1.00”
10 for $1.00 – that was fantastic! Since I didn’t know how many seeds I needed for a 3’ x 4’ garden, I could start with the 10 packages and get more if I needed them. This would be a great day!
The rack squeaked as I rotated it – looking for all my favorites – corn, peas, beans, radishes, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, pumpkins, watermelon, and I needed one more. Then it hit me, I was being selfish – I was getting all my favorites – I would make some major husband points if I grew something I hated, but the wife loved. I was excited – I was going to make her smile – who said I was a selfish husband?
I turned the rack and scanned – turned again and scanned – turned and scanned – soon Rufus looked up as the squeaks echoed in the quiet store.
“Herr Leher – can I help you? What are you looking for?”
“Well, I really want to surprise my wife with some special seeds – but can’t find them.”
“What are you looking for, perhaps I have them in back.”
“I can’t find any.”
“Any what?
“Sauerkraut seeds”
“Herr Leher – can I help you? What are you looking for?”
“Well, I really want to surprise my wife with some special seeds – but can’t find them.”
“What are you looking for, perhaps I have them in back.”
“I can’t find any.”
“Any what?
“Sauerkraut seeds”
Rufus sat up, looked at me and remarked, “Junge, junge, vas seeked du?” (Roughly translated means, Young person, young person, what did you just say?”)
Rufus didn’t wait for me to repeat, but in a very serious tone said, “I must be out of them – try cabbage – I might have some of them left.”
Rufus didn’t wait for me to repeat, but in a very serious tone said, “I must be out of them – try cabbage – I might have some of them left.”
I went home and announced, “Bought the seeds, going to plant them now.”
“That’s nice dear, have fun.”
So my garden was finished – 10 packages of seeds spread out in the 3' x 4' garden plot all ready to grow.
I watered and waited. I waited and watered. Soon some green shoots appeared – then others – then others – then a tangled mess. I learned you can’t plant 10 packages of seed in a 3' x 4' foot garden, under a tree, and expect much from it.
Needless to say my gardening exploits were soon the talk of the town. Men would take me by the arm after church and share gardening tips such as, “You might want to try planting in the Spring,” or “I usually allow extra room for watermelon vines,” or “Would you like some vegetables from my garden?”
I can only imagine what the congregation thought of their new teacher – what had they got themselves into? – but I had a Call and they had patience. After awhile I was invited to ride on the tractor as the farmer shared wisdom. Soon I was driving my own tractor, and then I was given 40 acres to take care of. The good people of New Minden helped me learn lessons about plants, gardens and sauerkraut seeds.
I thank God for their patience, for they helped me more than once plant seeds – not just seeds for vegetables, but eternal seeds of Scripture.
“That’s nice dear, have fun.”
So my garden was finished – 10 packages of seeds spread out in the 3' x 4' garden plot all ready to grow.
I watered and waited. I waited and watered. Soon some green shoots appeared – then others – then others – then a tangled mess. I learned you can’t plant 10 packages of seed in a 3' x 4' foot garden, under a tree, and expect much from it.
Needless to say my gardening exploits were soon the talk of the town. Men would take me by the arm after church and share gardening tips such as, “You might want to try planting in the Spring,” or “I usually allow extra room for watermelon vines,” or “Would you like some vegetables from my garden?”
I can only imagine what the congregation thought of their new teacher – what had they got themselves into? – but I had a Call and they had patience. After awhile I was invited to ride on the tractor as the farmer shared wisdom. Soon I was driving my own tractor, and then I was given 40 acres to take care of. The good people of New Minden helped me learn lessons about plants, gardens and sauerkraut seeds.
I thank God for their patience, for they helped me more than once plant seeds – not just seeds for vegetables, but eternal seeds of Scripture.