God speaks to us individually in many different ways. He speaks through His word, the Bible. He may speak through the wise counsel of a fellow believer. He often speaks through the ministry of His pastors and teachers. He may speak through the ministry of His Holy Spirit in our thoughts and in our prayer life. The many resources that we have available in the media can also be a source of connection with God.
My husband Wayne sometimes feels prompted from God by a series of images or a storyline resembling a parable. I would like to share this recent story which Wayne felt strongly that he should write down.
I would like to stress that this is not a criticism of academic learning. There are many lessons contained in this story, amongst them the need to balance what is known and what is done.
Perhaps God has in mind someone for whom this story was intended.
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There was once a man who owned a very large tract of
land. The land was extremely fertile and
abundant permanent water flowed through it from the East and the West.
The man looked at the land and gave thanks for the blessings
God had showered on him and he thought to himself, “such fertile land will not
only feed my family but, with good stewardship, provide for the whole nation.”
So, the man set about tilling the soil. He removed rocks and obstacles. He diverted streams and irrigated the whole
of his land and eventually it was ready to produce a great harvest.
Over time, the land became more fruitful and the man was
able to feed his family and to produce enough crops to feed his neighbours as
well.
Now the man had a son.
When the boy was young his father told him of his vision to feed the
nation so that none would ever be hungry.
The father said to the son, “Be diligent at school and equip yourself
for the task that will one day be yours, for the prize will not be reached in
the span of just one lifetime.”
The boy pondered on his father’s words and as he grew, the
weight of responsibility became greater, knowing that one day it would be up to
him to fulfil his father’s vision.
Being faithful to his father, the boy acquitted himself well
in his studies but when the time approached for him to finish school he said to
his father, “let me go to university to attain a degree in an agricultural
field so that when I return, the things I have learned will increase the land’s
yield many times.”
The father was pleased that the son shared his vision to
make the land prosper and he agreed that he should go to university.
For three years the son studied hard and as he had done in
school, excelled in his studies; his eyes on the day when his father’s land
would produce a massive harvest.
At the end of three years the father said to the son, “It is
good that you have applied yourself so well, together we can make the land
blossom.”. But the son said to the father, “I have been approached by one of my
lecturers and he thinks that with my aptitude I could attain a master’s
degree. Let me take one more year and I
will return to take up the challenge.”.
The father said, “It is good that you wish to expand your
knowledge so that when you return the harvest will be even greater.”.
Once again, the son applied himself with zeal; his eyes
still fixed on the day when his father’s land would produce a massive harvest
and feed all the people.
Another year passed and the father once again enquired of
the son and the son replied, “I have been singled out by one of my tutors who
feels I should work towards a Ph.D. With
a doctorate I can return home and train many more sons to work the land and
produce a harvest beyond our imagination.”
The father again replied, “It is good that you have held
onto our vision so diligently and for so long.
When you return, we will truly see a great harvest multiplied.”
So, the son spent another two years away from home and
worked hard at his dissertation. He
applied all that he had learnt and authored a thesis that would become a text
book for those who work on the land.
The father was very proud of his son and again he wrote to
him and said, “My son, you have worked hard and have achieved great
distinction. Now it is time to return
home and put to work all that you have learnt.”.
But once again the son replied, “Father I have wonderful
news. Because of the success of my work
the university has offered me a professorship.
Just think; I will be able to train up a whole generation of farmers of
the land. They will know the best
principles of land and animal management and will guarantee none will want for
food in the future.”.
The son waited for his father’s reply, confident of his
praise for his steadfast diligence to his dream.
Many months passed and no word was received from his father,
so the son set off to return home and tell him of his news. But when he crested
the hill which overlooked his father’s land, he was shocked to see the fields
barren. The canals that had supplied
water to the fields were silted up and dust blew across the landscape.
As he approached his father’s house, he saw an old woman
sitting beneath a lone shade tree; her face was drawn and deep lines like the
ones now scarring the ground were etched across her face.
It was then that she lifted her gaze and he realised it was
his mother.
“What has happened?” the son exclaimed, and “Where is my
father?”
His mother said, “It is good that you have returned home and we are all very proud of what you have achieved my son.” To this the son said to his mother, “I will return to the university and train up a generation to restore the land and fulfil the promise I made my father.”. But the mother turned to her son and said, “Your zeal for your father’s vision does you credit my son, but there is little point. You see, I am the only one left and all the others have starved to death.”
© Wayne Collett 2021
