Soul Scientist

Many times, the current state of a soil displays its’ history, including what rock(s) it formed from, past management choices, major weather events, etc. This knowledge can then help a soil scientist make better recommendations for management choices to preserve or enhance a soil’s natural fertility for the future. Even information we might take for granted can be influential in decisions for the sustainability or recovery of a soil’s health. For example, knowing that harder rocks like basalt or granite usually require more time and energy to break down into soil particles can have a major impact on current or future practices for a soil with these rocks as its parent material. This principle comes from a hard rock’s innate resistance to decay unlike softer rocks like limestone or mica. But soil formed from harder rocks can be higher in proportion of smaller particles than larger particles, dependent on the composition of the rocks themselves. In turn, the proportion of the different sized particles to each other determines a soil’s texture.

Many soil scientists consider soil texture as the most influential soil characteristic in terms of a soil’s health and productivity. This is because soil texture affects nearly every characteristic of a soil from water and nutrient movement and availability to a crop to pH and plant rooting depths. Many soils useful for many purposes, including good crop production, usually have higher amounts of smaller particles in them.       

Keeping all this in mind, could the story of the woman and her poured-out perfume jar in the Gospels give us information about the history and texture of the soil of her soul? According to Jesus, she loved much because her sins, which were many, were forgiven (Luke 7:47 NASB). In other words, her once-hard heart of sin had been transformed by God into good ground, i.e. a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19 ESV). Thus, she was ready to give everything she had in worship for Jesus, all the way down to the smallest particle of her soul. She showed everyone there (and us today) that her soul had good soil.

She knew the beauty of small acts and the giving of her all. The Pharisees considered her selfish, but we see her as selfless, which is exactly the purpose of a good soil. A good soil gives outward from itself so that seeds and thus, society can flourish from its resources. As importantly, much of a soil’s giving ability occurs from the presence of the smaller particles. Because the smaller particles are the ones who do the most work in transforming waste, giving nutrients and water to a crop, buffering pH over time, and other vital processes.

Similarly, as we give of ourselves to whatever Jesus puts in our hearts to do, our formerly rock-hard hearts will become good soil for our Jesus to use with more and more people. In other words, as we pour ourselves out in adoration like the woman and her alabaster perfume jar, God will make good soil grow in us. That is, He will make the smaller particles of humility, grace, devotion, and trust to appear in us and change us into His Image. Then, we will be better able to buffer others’ anger or hurt, give grace and wisdom, transform hurtful words, receive disappointments, and other vital gifts to help those in need of hope and eternal life.

For as we give of ourselves and the Gospel, without expectation, hesitation, or reservation, our world can be transformed one soul at a time.

Only God can make and sustain good soil, be it under our feet or in our souls.

Only God can bless us with the grace of being small pieces of living stone reflecting the beauty of our Cornerstone Christ (see 2 Peter chapter 3).

As our Good God forms good soil in our souls and under our feet, He gives us opportunity to be thankful in all things. In case you didn’t know this already, gratitude is a great amendment for the soil of our souls as to improve current and future crop production in faith and fruits of the Spirit. For when gratitude and humility are present in the soil of a soul, then it’s time to watch and see what good our Good God will bring from or through a life set aside unto Him.

God can transform any soul into good soil. I’m living proof of that truth. And if you’re the same, please take a minute or two to share your story with us in the comments. We can all benefit from hearing what our Good God has done in your life. And we can all rejoice in seeing what our Good God will do from your life, too.     

written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2024,