Part XXV:

The Sower and the Seed

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 I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness,
      and you will harvest a crop of love.
   Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,
      for now is the time to seek the Lord,
   that he may come
      and shower righteousness upon you.’

~Hosea 10:12

     Sarah was as impressed with the diner's interior as she was with that of the cafe. Although also under renovations, it's interior resembled the outside with its bold coloring, distinctive features, and sharp lines.  Although, those features took on a lighter tone in the softer background and plush carpeting.  Alex and Sarah grabbed a table by a window and shortly thereafter an older gentleman approached them.

     "Alex," he called out, "I thought that was you. Good to see you."

      Alex rose from his chair and greeted him with a hug, "Same here Jack," he then turned towards Sarah, "I'd like you to meet a friend of mine, Sarah." 

     "It's very nice to meet you Jack." 

     "Likewise Sarah," Jack greeted with a bow of his head and a warm smile. 

     "How's Helen?" Alex asked.

     "Oh, she's fine. Her knees were acting up but she's much better now.  Thank you for asking."

     "Well you be sure to give her my love and tell her I'll send a prayer up for her."

     "We'll do Alex." Jack then turned back to Sarah, "Sarah, you look familiar." He then inquired with a note of curiosity. "Have we met?"  

    "I don't think so...I've never been in here before."  Sarah then remembered the incident in the plaza lot on Sunday and wondered if he may have seen her there.

     "I know," Jack declared with recognition, "Don't you go to that church pastored by Dean Richards?"

     "Why yes I do, Love Church."  Sarah was relieved.  She didn't want to recollect those events now.

     "It's a good church. I have my home church but my wife and I enjoy visiting.  Have you ever been there Alex?"

     "No," Alex replied shaking his head, "I can't say I have."

     "You should check it out sometime.  It's right up your alley."

     "I'll have to do that," Alex agreed looking back at Sarah.

     "Now what can I get you kids to drink? 

     "Sarah?" Alex asked.

      "I'll have a diet cola." 

     "Bottled water for me Jack...What's the special today?"  

     "It's a new one on the menu.  Meatloaf with mix vegetables and a freshly baked roll on the side.  I highly recommend it?" Jack replied with enthusiasm. 

     "Sounds great, I'll have that," Sarah eagerly said.

     "The same for me Jack."

     "You got it," Jack was pleased.  "You won't be disappointed. We've been working on lightening up the lunch menu."

     "I know, I've been here twice the last couple weeks but it seems I keep stopping in on your day off."

     "I'm in a new chapter in my life Alex and I don't work the tables as often as I used to.  I'm leaving that to the younger folks while I concentrate on the menu which I can do from home, but I don't think I can totally give up this end of it.  I enjoy the personal interaction with the customers, and the kids keep me feeling young," he added with a wink.

     "I'm glad to hear that.  Change is nice but it's good to remain involved too.  Besides, you add an air of class and finess to this place Jack.  There's much to be said for experience.  You would be missed."

     At that Jack let out a jolly, Santa Clause laugh before modestly expressing his gratitude, "Thank you dear boy." Jack was deeply touched. "Well, I'll leave you two kids alone and will be back shortly with your drinks."   

     Alex then turned back to Sarah, "So, where were we?"

     "The flow.  I know it is important to have the right heart about things.  Jesus often spoke about heart issues.  My Pastor is really big on the topic too."  Sarah then dropped silent waiting for Alex to proceed.

     "I'm listening," Alex said in the hopes of encouraging her to share further.

     "Alright.  Well, we know God is holy and we are to be holy as He is holy.  Alex, I would have to say holiness is a matter of the heart.  Every time I have doubts I ask myself where my heart is at.  Why am I doing what I am doing?  I would have to say the flow boils down to that.  Yet I know we can have the right heart and still be wrong.  From what the Apostle Paul said I get the impression he probably had the right heart when he was persecuting Christians but he was wrong."

     Alex was impressed.  "That's really good Sarah," he commended and noted that she seemed happy with his response.  "Many do understand the importance of the condition of the heart, but they seem to miss that one can have the right heart intentions and still be wrong, yet it begins there."

     Sarah nodded in agreement.

     Alex continued, "You have a home, I would imagine you do some gardening." 

     "Yes, I have a flower garden in the back and a smaller vegetable garden." 

     "Tell me more about your gardens.  Let's start from the beginning."

     "The beginning?"

     "Yes, how did you start creating your gardens?"

     "Let's see.  There's a plant nursery about 20 miles from here where I generally get my plants and seeds.  It's a way out there but it's huge with a large selection.  I love tulips and they have the best variety I have yet to come across.  The owners are really nice too, an older couple...they're really cute together..."  Sarah had become engrossed and quite animated in her description of the nursery.  Realizing it, she suddenly paused and asked sheepishly, "You didn't mean that far back did you...or that much info?"

     Alex laughed thinking she was cute, "Sarah, go as far back as you like...and I'd love to hear about this cute couple," he knew her confidence was suffering in an unproductive way and she really did need the encouragement. 

     She smiled, "Well, they ARE a cute couple.  They're like 70 years old and they still hold hands and call each other 'dear'. It's cute!"

     "Now I have to say that is cute," he agreed and tried to keep a serious face but found himself grinning at her heartfelt account.   

     "I'm serious," she said, but she was also smiling as she tried to surpress her laughter. "But let me get back to gardening."            

     "Oh, I think I want to hear more about the couple." Alex was enjoying the diversion and even though he was teasing her about it his manner, as he had hoped, did seem to be doing away with her self-consciousness while helping her open up and share.  Although, he had to admit he was also lightly flirting.

     Jack then returned with their drinks and informed them that lunch would be out shortly.  He then returned to the counter.

     "Now where was I?" Sarah asked with a smile.  

     "The cute couple," Alex wasn't ready to let it go. 

     "Nooo,' her smile grew wider.  "I mean before I got sidetracked."      

     "Ok, let me see...ah yes, gardening...your plants and seeds." 

     "Oh yes, I first had to clear an area...that's the hardest part as my grass is pretty thick back there.  Then I had to till the ground to soften it so that the roots would take well.  The vegetable garden was more challenging as I started it with seeds and really had to clear the ground to give them adequate room to grow...Oh," Sarah exclaimed excitedly with a beam of enlightenment, "The parable of the sower and the seed!" 

     Alex smiled.  He knew she would get it, "Go on."

     "In order for the seeds to take it has to be planted in proper soil..."

     "Excellent," Alex commended again.  "What would you compare that soil, or ground to?"

     Sarah thought of it for a minute then offered, "Our hearts?"

     "Very good Sarah...and the seed?"

     "The Word of God," she said assuredly.

     Henry then returned with lunch and after he had left Alex continued, "Having the proper heart condition is like having the proper soil or ground condition to receive the seed, but we still need the seed and the seed needs to grow."

     "And then there's the tending like watering and fertilzing and watching for weeds," Sarah continued with enthusiams.

     "Yes Sarah, in that parable we also know that it isn't just about having a hard heart or following after carnality.  It can be the cares of the world, worries that can choke out the seed and block our flow.  Believers tend to concentrate on wrong attitudes in regards to the lusts of the flesh and that is a very important part of it, but if we are not careful the little foxes, like worldly cares, will spoil the vine."

     "I hadn't thought of that but you are right.  Jesus did bring those things up in that parable..." she said thoughtfully, then added, "but I know you are hungry so please, do eat."  Sarah said, then began laying her napkin on her lap.

     "Yes dear," came Alex's reply and Sarah's head shot up in surprise at the endearment, but his eyes were on his plate as he had started to dig in.  She couldn't help but smile and although he wasn't looking directly at her, he took note of it.    

     After taking a biteful Alex commented appreciatively, "Oh, this is good."

     "It is very good," Sarah agreed, then noted, "You really love to eat don't you?"

     Alex chuckled, "Food is a passion of mine.  I love experimenting in the kitchen myself.  There are some wonderful places to eat in the community, you just have to know where to go."    

     "Alex, I'm curious, why is it that the cafe and diner appear to be in contrast to the rest of their surroundings?  For instance, the diner is lovely on the outside but the rest of the plaza could use cosmetic work.  It's just the opposite with the cafe in your neighborhood."

     Alex swallowed a mouthful before answering, "That's a good question Sarah.  Many in this neighborhood don't trust what they see as pleasant and put together on the outside, and there are valid reasons...The opposite goes for my neighborhood."

     "They don't trust what they see as unpleasant and disorderly on the exterior," Sarah offered.

     "Exactly.  I had wanted to work on the exterior of the cafe but the Lord told me to let it go for now...same with Reuben on the rest of the plaza here. Amongst other things, the cafe and diner are being used by the Lord to help the residents get beyond exterior appearances that can hinder further growth.  Although he does work with us and will make certain changes for our benefit, other times He's more interested in changing us rather than our surroundings."  Alex paused as he noticed Sarah looking beyond him and her expression growing tense.  He looked over his shoulder to see what had captured her attention and saw Jim walking over to their table.

 Part XXV:  Out of the Comfort Zone: