13/06/2026
From the Manse: A Thought for the Week
Sunday 14th June 2026
Dear Friends,
Recently, both of our churches had plants for sale. As I watched people browsing the tables, choosing flowers and vegetables to take home, it struck me how naturally we are drawn to what appears healthy and strong.
The plants that sold first were often the ones with the brightest blooms, the strongest stems, and the healthiest leaves. They looked as though they would flourish with very little effort. Meanwhile, some of the smaller plants, the ones that looked a little tired or fragile, remained on the tables for longer.
It reminded me of Jesus' Parable of the Sower.
In that familiar story, Jesus speaks about seeds falling on different types of ground. Some fall on the path, some among rocks, some among thorns, and some on good soil where they grow and produce a rich harvest. The parable reminds us that growth depends not only on the seed but also on the environment in which it finds itself.
As I reflected on those unsold plants, I wondered if there is a lesson there for us as Christians.
In many areas of life, it is easy to focus our attention on those who seem strong, capable, and flourishing. We admire success, confidence, and visible growth. Yet throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently directs His attention elsewhere. He notices those who are overlooked. He seeks out the struggling, the forgotten, the lonely, and the weak.
When Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower, He is not simply teaching about successful growth. He is helping us understand the importance of creating the conditions in which growth can happen. Good soil does not appear by accident. It is nurtured, cared for, and prepared.
The same is true in our communities and churches.
Many people around us may be carrying burdens that we cannot see. Some may feel fragile, discouraged, isolated, or uncertain about the future. Like those smaller plants left on the table, they may not immediately catch our attention. Yet they are often the very people who most need encouragement, friendship, and care.
As followers of Christ, we are called not simply to admire strength but to support weakness. We are called to offer kindness where there is hurt, companionship where there is loneliness, and hope where there is despair. We are invited to become the good soil in which others can take root and flourish.
The wonderful thing about gardening is that today's struggling plant can become tomorrow's strongest bloom when given the right care and attention and the same is often true of people.
Therefore, this week, perhaps we might ask ourselves: Who around me needs a little extra care? Who might benefit from a phone call, a visit, a word of encouragement, or simply knowing that someone notices them? And I pray God helps us to see beyond outward appearances and to recognise the value and potential He has placed within every person. In doing so may we be people who nurture growth wherever we find ourselves.
Every blessing,
Rev Jade
