Most of us who attended other than Christian Science Sunday schools in our younger days can recall the large charts of colored pictures which were used to illustrate the lesson of each week. Among these the writer especially recalls the one illustrating the parable of the sower. The picture portrayed a man with a sack from which he was sowing seed; beside him a winding road led off into the distance; the ground around him was stony, with thorns and briers growing in what appeared to be poorly prepared ground; while above and around him flocks of birds were ready to devour the seed as it was sown.
Whatever the teaching received in the class may have been regarding this parable, the impression left by the picture was one of careless sowing. This impression was not entirely corrected until some time after the writer had become a student of Christian Science, and this new tongue had made plain many things in the Bible which were hitherto obscure. My first awakening to the deeper, truer meaning of this parable came when I read what Mrs. Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," on page 272: "Jesus' parable of 'the sower' shows the care our Master took not to impart to dull ears and gross hearts the spiritual teachings which dulness and grossness could not accept."
One spring I was very desirous of having a good garden, and purchased the choicest seed to be had. The soil was spaded and pulverized, and the seeds were planted with great care, but the only reward for all the labor and expense was a vigorous growth of weeds. It was certain the seed was good, but when the soil was tested it was found to be sour and unfit for planting. Does not this represent the soil of mortal mind, unprepared and rebellious, in which we too often attempt to sow the seeds of Truth and Love? The new day of agriculture has evolved the scientific farmer, who not only selects his seed with great care but studies soil and climatic conditions, availing himself of the knowledge of experts who can help him increase his production several fold. The new day of religion, of which we are hearing much just now, is already here,—the day of Christian Science, wherein the scientific sower of the word of God, realizing how precious the seed is, sows it with the greatest care.
