The song “Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil”[1] by Handt Hanson, is a beautiful piece that suggests a deep sense of longing for something important. The melody, tone, and words all come together perfectly as an interpretation of the gospel reading for today. While it is tempting to want to move on immediately to what a story like the parable of the sower means that reaction is usually an attempt to distance ourselves from the personal impact of the story. The story is safer if we can intellectualize it and then conveniently rationalize it away and not have to deal with the emotions stirred up by the message.

For example, we all know that a love letter is not meant to be analyzed — nothing can kill off a declaration of love faster than over-analysis. No, a love letter simply calls for a res…