In the midst of a screed against the wildly wayward people of Israel, predicting impending disaster (one line reads the king of Israel will be completely destroyed), Hosea the prophet laid out a beautiful recipe for flourishing.

Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.

Marvelous words to live by, wise words to instruct a younger generation, solid words to take to heart. Self-help books gully-wash the market, and I’ve enjoyed several good ones. But in all those pages you’ll find no better advice for flourishing.

Sow righteousness, and keep at it year after year. Plow through my hard heart. Let the Lord send rain in his time and at his pleasure. He’s growing me slowly, quietly, imperceptibly. At some point I’ll reap the fruit of unfailing love.

Sounds like a pretty good life.

Hosea 10:12 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

The old, stained, and well-used recipe card above is for my Grandma Mayes’s German Chocolate pound cake—one of my favorites.