A Parable About Manure -- Really?

 Have you ever given much thought to manure?  Why its used, What it does, how it works etc.?

Well as I read the parable about the fig tree in, Luke’s Gospel,  I began to wonder what was the importance of this small little story.

And so, my mind lead me on adventure of the smelly stuff.

So after reading just a small bit of information; I begin to realize the impact that such a parable would have on those who were listening; and why Jesus told them about the fig tree.

They were people who knew the land and how best to use it.  In most cases, except for fishing, people at that time in history worked the land for their livelihood.  

They knew the importance of taking good care of the earth in their charge. 

I google manure and this is what I found  this:

“Manure is both a fertilizer and a soil amendment (material added to improve soil). Manure slowly releases nutrients into the soil that plants can easily absorb. Manure contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and micronutrients, which are important for plant health. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient that plants need and is responsible for rapid plant growth and the green color of plants.

Before manure can be used to fertilize plants, it must go through an aging process called composting. In this process, fresh manure sits for 3 to 12 months…..Applying manure to the soil and allowing it to work is a slow and gradual process.  There is now instant fix to quickly solve the problems.”

Did you catch the one word used twice?  “Slow — a gradual process.”

The gardener — Jesus — just ask for one more year to allow the manure to do it work.    

That is, let the process of good growth happen slowly so the improvements take a healthy hold on the production of the tree.  Then “next year” we’ll decide.

We humans all-to-often expect fast.  We want God to be fast.  To do what we pray for now.

In my experience, God doesn’t move at our speed. God knows it take time to make things right and good.

Like manure working in damaged soil.

6 Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. ⁷So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” ⁸He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. ⁹If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” ’(Luke 13)