Seeds and Soil: Is your Heart Ready?

"Every moment and every event of every man's life on earth plants something in his soul. For just as the wind carries thousands of winged seeds, so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most of these unnumbered seeds perish and are lost, because men are not prepared to receive them: for such seeds as those cannot spring up anywhere except in the good soil of freedom, spontaneity and love."

                                 ~ Thomas Merton, Seeds of Contemplation

Is your heart fertile to receive the seeds that God sends to you? What kind of soil do the seeds that rain down upon our souls find? Soil that is frozen and difficult to penetrate? Soil that is overridden with weeds that threaten to choke any sign of new growth? Or soil carefully managed with mindful devotion and love, clear of weeds, nourished by the eternal waters of God and expectantly prepared for a garden of amazing diversity and beauty to blossom upon it's fertile landscape? 

Heavenly Father,

We thank you for your great mercy and grace. We pray that you help clear our hearts of distractions, illusions and attachments as we open them up to you.  Help make them wide and empty spaces so that your love might flood through them, washing them with your eternal waters, making the soil of our souls pure and rich and ready to receive the seeds that you shower upon us every moment. May we take those seeds and let them bear fruit within our hearts so that we might bring you great glory. Nourishing them with the manna of Scripture and with our prayers and praises lifted high towards you like incense rising to your throne.  

May we bring you all glory, honor and praise.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen.