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This devotional thought was written to capture the true story of Rich's first gardening experience in New Minden, Illinois. It was written as a personal story, however, it was expanded and then presented to the Michigan District - LCMS Professional Church Worker's Conference. 

Sauerkraut Seeds - a Devotion​

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." 

 Whenever I hear the parable of the sower, I think back to my first Call as a Commissioned Minister.

Call Day was an exciting one for me – for a Call meant that I would be able to lead young people to a deeper relationship with their Savior, help them grow in wisdom and strength and to be a role model of Christian service. I opened the envelop with trembling hands –

Divine Call – to be teacher of grades 5, 6, 7, 8, coach of boys sports, church organist, Sunday School teacher, Principal and other duties as shall be mutually agreed upon. Yes, my assignment to St. Johns Lutheran School and Church, New Minden, Illinois was interesting – to say the least. Having been raised in the cities of Chicago and New York, rural Illinois was like a foreign country.

I soon learned the language – phrases like “rock road”, “catywampus,” and “bottom land,” soon rolled off my tongue like a native. I also learned to appreciate the local cuisine – frog legs gigged from the ditches, chicken fresh from the chopping block, and home-made pork sausage made from home butchered hogs. 

However, it took a while to learn some of the customs – especially the fine art of gardening. It seemed as if a home garden was required of all those who lived “in town.” Since I did, I decided that I, too, would learn the fine art of raising vegetables. 

So one Saturday morning in July, I arose at 10:00 am and announced to my wife – today I make a garden. She said, “That’s nice, dear, have fun.”

So, armed with a shovel and rake I went into the backyard to make a garden. Since it was Southern Illinois and it was July, I looked for a nice cool spot – under the Hackberry tree. Since Southern Illinois is know for its hard-packed clay – the digging was made easier by putting the tip of my shovel between the cracks and flipping over the clay clods. It was hard work, but I prevailed and after an hour of hard work I had my garden ready for seeds – all 5 x 5 foot of it.

I went into the house and drank a gallon of water and announced to my wife, “Garden’s done.” She responded, “That’s nice, dear.” 

“I’m off to buy seeds.”

“Have fun.”

The bell on the door announced my arrival at Rufus Hoffman’s General Store. Rufus owned the only store in town, was mayor and was an elder in the church. He took pride in providing for all 200 members of New Minden town. He looked up from his paper and greeted me with, “Guten Tag, Herr Lehrer, How can I help you?”

Rufus respected my position of teacher – I was Herr Lehrer – Mister Teacher. 

“I’m making garden – looking for some seeds.”

“I have them – check out the rack.” 

Never did he question the wisdom of planting seeds in the middle of July – after all, I was Herr Lehrer.

The rack squeaked as I turned it around and around looking for the perfect seeds for my garden – I got the beets, beans and corn, I grabbed the peas, carrots and watermelon – then looked up at the sign – Seeds 10 for $1.00. So around the rack went and I picked out the tomatoes, cucumbers and pumpkin. Nine down and one to go – it hit me – I was being selfish – I chose everything I liked – so I wanted to get something for the wife. Something she loved, but I didn’t. 

Round and round I searched the rack – still no luck. Rufus looked over and asked, “Can I help you find something, Herr Lehrer?”

“Rufus, looking for seeds.”

“Well, you are in the right place – what kind.”

“Sauerkraut seeds.”

The silence was deafening – soon Rufus spoke, “Junge, junge, vas segade do?”

The rough translation of the low German is “Young person, what did you just say?”

Rufus smiled and offered, “No sauerkraut – how about cabbage?”

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 5 x 5 garden plot all ready to grow.

I watered and waited. I watched and I waited. 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 5 x 5 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 lesson 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 and the Will of God.

I have enjoyed my time as a Commissioned Minister – for Commissioned Ministers can duck and cover – my Ordained Brothers don’t have that luxury. Sometimes I would feel bad for my Ordained Brothers – watching them get flayed alive at Voter’s Meetings, taking all the blame for the lack of attendance, lack of funds and lack of enthusiasm in the parish.

Yes, my Ordained brothers might get to eat first after they pray at weddings, funerals or baptisms, but that seemed as too little a perk to offset the constant pressure placed on them by the members.

As one friend of mine shares, “No one member expects a perfect pastor, but taken together, every congregation does.” That is a true statement. 

I thank God that the success or failure of the ministry is not dependent on how well I can teach or how well my brothers preach. I thank God that faith is not given by my words or deeds. I thank God that His grace is sufficient and that the Spirit works faith. 
 
"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

I thank God that He chooses to us me and my brothers as sowers – that He allows us to nurture the growth of the seeds as we teach and preach – helping those that hear – understand – producing a crop – yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

I thank God for His grace – for I often am guilty of the good that I would do I do not and the evil that I would not – that I do. How great God is as He uses to prepare soil – to plant seeds – or to help harvest 

I thank God for the dedicated pastors who plough, plant, weed and harvest. 

Please pray with me:

     Thanks for the Gospel

     Thanks for the training

     Thanks for pastors

     Thanks for this time

              Bless us and let us be a blessing 


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