**The Parable of the Sower and the Storm**
In the days when the wise Teacher walked the earth, sharing his reflections on life under the sun, there was a man named Eliab who lived in a small village nestled between rolling hills and fertile valleys. Eliab was a farmer, a man of the soil, who spent his days tending to his fields and orchards. He was known for his diligence, but also for his cautious nature. He often hesitated, waiting for the perfect moment to act, fearing the uncertainties of life.
One morning, as the sun rose over the hills, casting a golden glow across the land, Eliab stood at the edge of his field, staring at the dark clouds gathering on the horizon. The wind began to pick up, rustling the leaves of the olive trees and carrying with it the scent of rain. His workers gathered around him, their faces etched with concern.
“Master,” said one of the workers, a young man named Caleb, “the storm approaches. Should we not wait until it passes before we sow the seed? What if the rain washes away all that we plant?”
Eliab frowned, his brow furrowed in thought. He had always been a man who sought certainty, who wanted to control every outcome. But as he stood there, the words of the Teacher echoed in his mind: *”Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.”* (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2)
The Teacher’s words were a call to action, a reminder that life was full of uncertainties, and that one could not wait for perfect conditions to do what was right. Eliab took a deep breath and turned to his workers.
“We will not wait,” he said firmly. “We will sow the seed, trusting that the Lord will bring the increase. If we wait for the perfect moment, we may never act at all. The storm may come, but we will not let fear dictate our steps.”
The workers nodded, their faces resolute, and together they began to scatter the seed across the field. The wind grew stronger, and the first drops of rain began to fall, but they did not stop. They worked tirelessly, their hands moving in rhythm with the rhythm of the earth.
As the storm raged around them, Eliab thought about the Teacher’s words: *”He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.”* (Ecclesiastes 11:4) He realized that his fear of the unknown had held him back for too long. Life was a gift, and it was meant to be lived with courage and faith, not paralyzed by doubt.
When the storm finally passed, the sun broke through the clouds, casting a rainbow across the sky. The field was soaked, but the seed had been sown. Weeks turned into months, and the seed began to sprout, growing into a bountiful harvest. Eliab and his workers rejoiced, for they had trusted in the Lord’s provision and had not let fear rob them of their reward.
But the story does not end there. One day, as Eliab walked through his fields, he noticed a stranger sitting beneath the shade of an olive tree. The man was old, his face lined with wisdom, and his eyes sparkled with a deep understanding of life. Eliab approached him and bowed respectfully.
“Who are you, sir?” Eliab asked.
The old man smiled. “I am but a traveler, sharing the wisdom of the ages. I have seen your fields, and they are a testament to your faith and courage. But remember this: *’In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.’* (Ecclesiastes 11:6) Life is full of uncertainties, but it is also full of opportunities. Do not grow weary in doing good, for in due season you will reap, if you do not give up.”
Eliab listened intently, his heart stirred by the old man’s words. He realized that the journey of faith was not about avoiding storms, but about trusting in the One who controls the winds and the waves. From that day forward, Eliab lived with a newfound boldness, casting his bread upon the waters and giving generously to those in need, knowing that his labor in the Lord was not in vain.
And so, the fields of Eliab became a symbol of hope and faith in the village, a reminder that even in the face of uncertainty, those who trust in the Lord will find their bread returned to them, multiplied and blessed beyond measure. For as the Teacher had said, *”Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.”* (Ecclesiastes 11:7-8)
Eliab learned to rejoice in the light, to embrace the sweetness of life, and to trust in the goodness of God, even when the days of darkness came. And in doing so, he found a peace that surpassed all understanding, a peace that anchored his soul in the midst of life’s storms.
