Greetings Beloved!
I think of you often and hope that today something finds you that expands your experience of delight.
I also want to let you know that I have made a new commitment to write to you at least twice a month. So, if you don’t hear from me, holla! As the churchy folks might say I’m committed to writing to you both “in season and out of season”. Basically, when I think it’s poppin’ and when I am truly not sure. I think sometimes I can get so in my head that I can miss the opportunity to share in the messiness before it can be curated into something that feels “shareable” to me. These days I am learning and trying to trust, that somewhere in the many rants that cross my mind, there’s something worth sharing … if for no other reason, for you to know you are not alone in your ranting.
Any who - that leads me to what I want to share with you today.
So, as you may know, one of the subjects/disciplines I teach is preaching. While there are several things I hold as pillars to effective proclamation, one of the tenants that I reiterate across classes is the necessity of the preacher actually receiving some sort of nourishment from what they are offering before they preach. In short, if the word hasn't said anything to you yet, perhaps revisit and keep turning it. I think this keeps us as preachers honest and also in the posture of receiving even as we pour out.
HOWEVER - even though I say this all the time (and I am sure my students will enjoy this) - I was not at all prepared for the sermon I preached with my beloved last week to drag me around (lovingly …ish ha-ha) all week long. (Here's a Link if You want to Check it Out )
We preached on the Parable of the Sower from the Biblical passage, Mark 4. While I won’t unpack the whole sermon, the line that has continues to haunt me is the repeated line“Scatter and sow….” The parable unpacks a farmer who is sowing their seed into ground, hoping to reap a harvest. The terrain isn’t always ideal but when it hits, the harvest is more than plentiful. The thing is, the last and healthy terrain was the last one that the farmer connected to. There’s an invitation here I think - sowing the things we want to see grow - love, joy, peace, possibility, justice, flourishing, etc. requires a “sow anyhow” type of posture to get behind the less than ideal to the abundance of what is possible.
I am in a season where I feel like I have a lot of seed in my hand and I am terrified to release it. There are thing I wants to plant but I am like in a world where so much of what I do continues to have more and more policies drawn up against it. Many days I’m like how sway. Dreams that keep coming up for me, but I am afraid to even put anything into the ground, for fear that a harvest isn’t on the other side (and managing my vision for what harvest has to be). Ideas that continue to percolate, but the fear of failure (hey Enneagram 3s!) can make it hard to even get started. I was reminded of the faith to start by my beloved in her sermon a few weeks ago, but this sermon was a reminder that even when you start, and even when it doesn’t seem like its working or the environment is fit for your flourishing, sow the goodness and trust the abundance that is you anyway. And this thang is notttt easy.
I don’t know what’s in your belly beloved. I don’t know what you are dreaming, feeling called to write, imagine, invest, love, sow, create for the flourishing of the peoples of this world - especially those that been set up to fail. I don’t know what journey has been hard to start or what relationship you decided you can’t have because the other didn’t work out. I don’t know exactly what it is, but I believe there’s something and probably some things. These things that are yours to have and share, are waiting for the courage of you to say “I will scatter and I will sow anyway.” I will try and I will fail and I will try and I will trust that what is fueling me can also be for me.
Scatter and sow, anyhow. There is ground that’s ready for you, and I am praying and believing that you will get to it and that the return- of community, love, resources, clarity, energy, possibility - will be so much greater than the loss. And that even on the spaces that were less than ideal, that you would learn something that would encourage you and give you wisdom for how to move forward. Even when we are afraid, I hope we can find courage to let fear be a companion but not the driver and see, what might happen if we show up - sowing and scattering, scattering and sowing - once again.
I love you! I am sending you all the best energy and vibes. Let’s lean into this bravery together – I sure could use the company <3.
In the abundance of love and with the hope of harvest,
Chelsea Brooke
p.s. If there’s anything you'd like me to write to you, always feel free to share in the comments alongside any comments for this post you have. I’d love to hear from you!