Good Soil: Growing Hope in Unexpected Places

When life feels hard, it's easy to wonder, Why bother? But what if God's kingdom grows precisely in those unexpected places?

In this episode of Holy Shenanigans, Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman reflects on Jesus' parables of the sower, the mustard seed, and the yeast to discover how God's generous love takes root through even the smallest acts of mercy and hope. Sharing the story of transforming a tiny, clay-filled garden into a place of beauty and abundance, Tara explores what it means to prepare our hearts as "good soil" and partner with God in cultivating new life.

Whether you're facing rocky ground, stubborn obstacles, or wondering if your efforts matter, this conversation offers encouragement to keep planting seeds of grace. Because God's love has a way of growing where we least expect it—and even the smallest acts of faith can become gardens of hope.

Join us as we imagine what might flourish when we choose to sow generously, trust God's surprising abundance, and become good soil for faith, hope, and love.

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Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman is a pastor, podcaster and host of Holy Shenanigans since September of 2020.  Eastman combines her love of ministry with her love of writing, music and visual arts. She is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary’s Theological Education for Emerging Ministry Program and the Youth and Theology Certificate Program at Princeton Seminary. She has served in various ministry and pastoral roles over the last thirty years in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of America).  She is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Warren Pennsylvania. She has presented workshops on the topics of faith and creativity at the Wild Goose Festival. She is a trainer for Soul Shop Suicide Prevention for Church Communities.