tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post4424546277613086909..comments2023-09-22T06:56:46.508-05:00Comments on Adoro te Devote: Incompetent GardenerAdorohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02853244433854822731noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post-69779693576299583392010-01-08T21:24:16.241-06:002010-01-08T21:24:16.241-06:00Perhaps God wants you to have faith in yourself th...Perhaps God wants you to have faith in yourself that the seeds you have planted have grown as they should. We all want to see the fruits of our labor, but how many times does someone that you've consoled our counseled actually come back to you and tell you in detail how you affected their life? All you can do is spread the Word. It is strong enough by Itself to all people if they are only open to it. <br /><br />I don't care for the "sales" analogy either. It doesn't fit with Christianity. As I say on my own blog at times: Christianity - It's a Lifestyle!<br /><br />Blessings,<br />AbbeyAbbey's Roadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04031127190630487584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post-42822358615973203452010-01-08T21:23:33.777-06:002010-01-08T21:23:33.777-06:00Great post.Great post.Cathy_of_Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16795566831031491371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post-67678495575797303292010-01-08T19:14:53.663-06:002010-01-08T19:14:53.663-06:00As a knock-out sales person and pretty good garden...As a knock-out sales person and pretty good gardener, I find the sales idea rather troublesome.<br /><br />All we are doing (as you said) is throwing the seeds out and getting out of the way. Sometimes the seeds fall on rocky ground. Not my problem. God does what God needs to do. To think otherwise is to focus on ones self - always dangerous ground.Adriennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01562944653624224107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post-78182439510116882502010-01-08T16:38:37.387-06:002010-01-08T16:38:37.387-06:00I love that picture of Mary that you used. The ima...I love that picture of Mary that you used. The imagery of the sower reminds me of the song "Parable", which we sang at a family funeral.Melody Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00442985285647041700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post-39016770240519185772010-01-08T11:55:41.165-06:002010-01-08T11:55:41.165-06:00I often feel the same way, Adoro, working in catec...I often feel the same way, Adoro, working in catechesis. It's tempting to fall in the sales-pitch mode, but I usually try to avoid it because 1) I'm a horrible sales person and 2) when I visit a store an am pounced upon by a commission-seeking associated I almost certainly resolve to NOT buy anything there. If the same mentality is true for evangelization then I especially don't want to present a "20% today only!" vibe to the gospel. <br /><br />I take great comfort in what you said, "My job isn't to convert anyone or to make them a Saint. That task belongs to God alone." It's a task in humility, to be sure, that someone's salvation and spiritual well-being can't be attributed to me, only the Holy Spirit.Maggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09398904417243102605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post-59872773196896900022010-01-08T08:02:42.839-06:002010-01-08T08:02:42.839-06:00We are all both gardeners and gardens. The "...We are all both gardeners and gardens. The "cure of souls" is a particular vocation, to be sure, belonging to the Priesthood within the Catholic Church, but as the laity we participate in this mystery, as members of the one body, in some real and mystical way. <br /><br />We are ourselves both souls cultivated by the holy spirit, and instruments used (at his pleasure, not ours) to help others. I find it a great consolation to look back at times when I realize that the Holy Spirit works through people, even far-from-flawless ones like you and me.<br /><br />WWarrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04053407632823479165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post-21550358504560666272010-01-07T21:40:43.474-06:002010-01-07T21:40:43.474-06:00I understand the sales analogy and I see where it ...I understand the sales analogy and I see where it can go awry.<br /><br />Applying the analogy to me, though, I must say that I suck at sales... not that I'm talented at it, but I must say that I think God has me in the customer service department... No returns, refunds, or exchanges, I can't fix your product (see the Repairs Department - those guys over there in the weird wood cubicles wearing a black dress-thing, long purple ribbons, and funny pompom hats), you have a better shot at getting my Manager's attention than I do, and yes, my instruction manuals are just about all in tiny fonts, too. Really, I sympathize. I, too, thought that mine came with a warranty, but there wasn't any 'fine print'. ... Would you like a complementary scapular? ... No, no warranty on it, either. Sorry.<br /><br /><br />I think it's past my bedtime.Hidden Onehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06042188431683942338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post-25176707820525633262010-01-07T21:34:55.321-06:002010-01-07T21:34:55.321-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Hidden Onehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06042188431683942338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15170815.post-69265736580613648732010-01-07T21:00:03.930-06:002010-01-07T21:00:03.930-06:00When I was in Protestant minister, as a pastor, I ...When I was in Protestant minister, as a pastor, I often heard the sales analogy and the idea of being the one who closes the sale. This places an unnecessary and in fact harmful focus on 'me' and I bore a heaviness when people rejected the offer.<br /><br />As a rather new lay person serving in adult catechesis I have a freedom I never had before. For sure, I am responsible to be as competent a "soul gardener" (a phrase I've used before) as I can be under the direction of the Lord and the authority of His Church but, and this is a big difference in me (just as my family) I do not feel the burden of souls who turn away though it does bring me sadness for them and when at my best I am mindful to pray for them. I am responsible to pray and to teach and to model (God willing) in my own life. Beyond that the results, salvation, sanctification and so on are in bigger Hands than mine. <br /><br />It is a great freedom and I must say I am enjoying it. Further, I believe it is gradually forming me into a better person and therefore a more competent (though far from flawless) teacher.<br /><br />God bless you Adoro.Owenhttp://drawntocatholicism.comnoreply@blogger.com