Rototill the Soil/Soul

Last updated on: May 28, 2021 at 10:20 am by Delisa Hargrove

Rototill the Soil/Soul 2021-05-28T10:20:25-10:00 Delisa Hargrove

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rototill the Soil Soul, by Kurt Johnson

My wife, Desiree, enjoys gardening. So, we dedicated a large, sunny plot of ground in our backyard for her beautiful garden. My contribution is not much. I just rototill the soil.

Years ago, I inherited an old rear-tine tiller that was once my grandpa’s. It is a big, powerful piece of equipment that can really turn dirt. But that first year we attempted to till and plant a garden it was hard-literally! The dirt was terrible. It felt like I was trying to rototill asphalt.

Each year since, we have amended and enriched the soil with compost, leaves, and manure, and removed rocks. Little by little, the soil has become more workable, well-drained, and richer with organic material. Every year it seems a little easier to rototill, and even though it has taken years, over time the soil has made huge progress!

Then this year, I ruined it. I wanted to pour a concrete walkway at the far side of the garden and was concerned the 6,000-pound concrete mixing trailer would sink into the soft garden soil and get stuck. So, I drove back and forth over the garden with my truck until the soil was smashed down and able to support the heavy load of concrete for the walkway.

Soon after finishing the walkway, it was time to rototill the garden and prepare it for planting. But I found the soil too hard to till. It was like starting from scratch, like the first time I tried tilling years before. The garden soil that was once workable was now compacted into a thin hard layer, and as I tried to till, I realized that I was pulling up rocks and poor dirt from below.

After passing over it several times with the tiller, I became frustrated that I was not getting a good, finished soil texture like I could in the past. Some areas were just too hard to till now. After getting jerked all around by the powerful tiller for all I could handle, I gave up.

A few days later, it rained, almost all day long. Then it rained the next day, and the day after that. By the weekend, I decided to try tilling the garden again, hoping that all the rain had softened the dirt. I was able to get a nice deep till! The soil did not seem as rich as it was before, but it was a start. And I am confident that with nurturing and care, amending the soil with good things over time will return the dark, rich, fertile garden soil that once was.

From Tilling the Soil to Soul

Now change the “I” in the word soil to a “U”, and my experience can take on spiritual meaning regarding the soul. Is our soul a place where spiritual seeds can grow? (see Matt. 13) What are we doing to amend, nourish and enrich our soul? How long does it take to develop rich, fertile garden soil? How quickly can poor choices seem to thwart our spiritual progress? Do we pray for, seek, and depend on living water from heaven, like the rain to soften the soil? It is hard to turn poor dirt into rich garden soil all at once- it requires time, patience, and work. The prophet arrived at this point in his life only after, and due to, a lifetime of tilling the soul with spiritual nourishment. But please remember that we can still enjoy the fruits of our garden each year as we incrementally improve the quality of our soil!

How Tos

Overcoming Trials

Practice

Previous Post

May 13, 2021

Motherhood: Grieving What Isn't or What Is

Next Post

June 30, 2021 A Visual Parable while Tubing Down the River

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Discovery How Tos Realization Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 November 2025 October 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 June 2024 May 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz