The Parable of the Sower: Why Most Cards Disappear (And Why That's Normal)
If you're new to handing out cards or feeling discouraged because most seem to disappear, this short Bible story explains exactly why that's normal... and why persistence wins anyway.
It's one of the clearest illustrations in Scripture of two powerful, connected principles: the law of averages (do something often enough, and a predictable ratio emerges) and the law of sowing and reaping (whatever you sow, you reap, and usually much more).
Jesus shared the Parable of the Sower: A farmer took a bag of excellent seed and walked his field, scattering it by hand. Some landed on good soil and multiplied into a massive harvest. But most didn't survive.
Here's what happened to the seed and what it means for you:
-
Some fell on the path - birds swooped in and ate it immediately.
→ These are the people who ignore your offer, decline the card, or take it only to throw it away moments later. Birds symbolize distractions, skepticism, poor timing, or outside voices (a spouse, friend, or doubt) that snatch the opportunity away.
→ The wise sower didn't chase birds or argue. He ignored them and kept sowing. -
Some fell on rocky ground - it sprouted fast, but with no deep roots, the hot sun withered it.
→ These are the folks who take the card, check the website, maybe message you... then life turns up the heat (schedules explode, doubts creep in, family weighs in, stress piles up) and they vanish. Like fishing: You cast a lot of lines, but only a few bites turn into keepers.
→ The sower didn't pause to dig rocks or nurse shallow plants. He disciplined his disappointment (felt it, but didn't let it stop him) and kept sowing. -
Some fell among thorns - the plants grew, but thorns choked them out completely.
→ These are the starters who get buried under the "cares of this life": bills, kids' schedules, home fixes, endless scrolling, small tasks that crowd out big possibilities. Little things cheat people out of major opportunities every day.
→ The sower didn't yank thorns from every spot. Good people sort themselves out; he just kept sowing. -
Some fell on good soil - it rooted deeply and produced abundantly: some 30-fold, some 60-fold, some 100-fold.
→ These are your rare gems: they take the card, engage the website, get started, and soon hand out their own cards. They duplicate and the multiplication begins.
→ The sower reached enough good soil by continuing. The harvest exploded not from perfection, but from the natural ratios and multiplied return.
What This Means for You and Your Cards
Your card is excellent seed. It's simple, clear, low-pressure, paired with a solid website.
Every sidewalk, store entrance, festival, park, and event is your field.
You are the sower: wise (using a smart, quiet system), equipped with quality seed, and ambitious (committed to showing up daily).
Most cards will get "lost" to birds, rocks, or thorns. That's not failure. It's the law of averages in full display. You control only one thing: how much seed you sow (how many cards you hand out each day). Keep sowing, and you'll outpace the losses, because there aren't enough birds, heat, or thorns to stop a determined volume.
The law of sowing and reaping seals it: "Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (Galatians 6:7). Flip it for clarity: Whatever you reap is what you've sown. If the harvest disappoints, check the mirror, not fate.
And here's the exciting part: you don't just reap what you sow. You reap much more. Plant pumpkin seeds, harvest pumpkins (and multiples). Plant consistently good seed, and the return compounds - 30x, 60x, even 100x in duplication and growth. On the flip side, neglect or poor habits amplify negatively too ("sow to the wind, reap the whirlwind").
Core Lessons to Live By
- Don't chase birds → Skip chasing down no's, skeptics, or drop-offs. It pulls you off the field.
- Don't dig rocks or pull thorns → Don't rescue every flake or try to fix everyone's distractions. Accept life's realities.
- Keep sowing relentlessly → Persistence beats the obstacles. Sow enough, and the law of averages delivers good soil.
- Embrace the ratios → Not every good-soil person hits 100-fold - some 30, some 60. Cast more lines (expose more people) to find your high-duplicators. Share the opportunity, watch responses, and build from those who step up.
A Personal Note
With profound hearing loss and two hearing aids, noisy or lengthy talks exhaust me. This card system lets me sow quietly - no forced conversations, no pretending to be extroverted. The parable and sowing/reaping principle remind me daily: keep scattering anyway. Good ground exists, and multiplied results follow consistency.
Your Simple Action Step
- Pick a daily target that fits your life right now: 50 cards? 75? 100?
- Hit it as often as possible.
- Track only what you control: cards handed out.
- Release the rest - takes, visits, sign-ups, duplications - to the laws of averages and multiplied harvest.
The sower never went home defeated over lost seed. He rested knowing he'd sown.
Do the same.
Keep walking your field.
Keep sowing.
The harvest will come. These principles are timeless.
Ready to Talk?
If this feels right and you'd like to see whether this approach could work for you, contact me. We'll talk and see if it's a fit.