It is the Soil
be sure, but also the love, compassion,
hope, friendships and faith that has been
lovingly cultivated through the years. Just
like the unique nature of the flavor of the
corn, the rich soil of relationship and love
sets this community apart from the rest.
But as I have learned the hard way this
summer as I stuck a few plants in the
ground without proper preparation and
tending of the soil, it takes daily work to
nurture a soil that will receive the seed and
flourish the plant. Just like it takes daily
work on our spiritual life to receive the
Word that God sows in our lives, hoping all
the while that it will fall into a heart that is
“good soil,” ready to grow and thrive.
It Is The Soil
by Ashley Crowder Stanley
Dear Friends,
I missed my weekly dose of “Mills River Corn” this summer. You see, when I first was
appointed to MRUMC, someone told me early on that I simply had to stop by the Valley Ag
store on 280 early in the morning and buy some of their corn. I took their advice and I have
been a big fan ever since. There is truly nothing that tastes as delicious in the summer than
the corn that is grown in this beautiful valley. So, on the way into the church on my first day
back after sabbatical, I stopped and purchased a dozen ears; it has been a very good week
so far!
“What is it,” I asked the woman working at the corn stand, “that makes this corn so much
better than all the rest? I mean, I’ve tried corn from all over the east coast this summer, and
it is just not good. I’ve been spoiled forever. What makes it so special?” And she replied
with a smile that was as warm as the summer sun, “It is the soil. That’s what everyone
says. It’s the soil here and also, that we pick it fresh every morning.”
It’s the soil. Jesus talked about the importance of soil in a parable. This is what he said:
“A farmer went out to plant his seed. He scattered the seed on the ground.
Some fell on a path. Birds came and ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky places,
where there wasn’t much soil. The plants came up quickly, because the soil
wasn’t deep. When the sun came up, it burned the plants. They dried up
because they had no roots. Other seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up
and crowded out the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It produced a crop
100, 60 or 30 times more than what was planted. Those who have ears should
listen and understand.” (Mt. 13:1-9)
Whatever we have comes from God, the
Sower: the food, the soil it grows in, the
friendships, the church, the scripture, the
opportunities, the comfort, the hope. Our
calling is to plow, tend, augment and grow
a place that will honor God. It is not enough
to sit back and say: “wow, this soil really is
unique and it’s ours;” no, as any gardener
or farmer knows, we have to put in the
time, energy, hard work and yes, a whole
lot of patience for soil to be free of rocks,
thorns, clumps of dried up dirt. It takes
water and sun and prayer and a
commitment to the long view of what is
possible.
Happily reunited with the corn and the
valley that produces it, gratefully reunited
with you, hopefully looking at the long view,
I look forward to working with you—hand in
hand, heart to heart—in cultivating the
spiritual soil God has blessed us with at
Mills River United Methodist Church so that
we can deepen the roots of our faith even
more and allow the seeds of God’s grace
and love take off and reach for the sun.
In ministry together,
Ashley
It is apparent to me that there is good, fertile, life-giving soil here in this valley and in this
church. Our community has been fed by what has been grown here: the corn and crops to
Rev. Ashley Crowder Stanley