⁴ Did you experience^[a] so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing? (Galatians 3:4 CSB)

“Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul. For just as the wind carries thousands of winged seeds so each moment brings with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most of these unnumbered seeds perish and are lost, because men are not prepared to receive them: for such seeds as these cannot spring up anywhere except in the good soil of freedom, spontaneity, and love.” (Thomas Merton)

I have read and reread the first line of this quote from Merton many times. However, the entire quote in context with our scripture bears some thought. Seeds are either planted within us or within others through us countless times every day. We have a choice whether these seeds are good and valuable or not. Within us we have the chance each day to do better. Both for ourselves and for others.

Life was never meant to be lived as some mindless striving for ourselves. Some gathering of more and more that, when we are gone, simply gets dispersed to others anyhow. It is not meant to be lived so busy that we have not a second to be, truly be, with others.

No, we were meant for something more. I know I have written this many times, but I think it bears repeating. When we consider our thoughts and deeds as seeds that we are planting for good or ill, how can we not consider the impact of everything we do both for ourselves and for others?