ROOTS AND FRUIT
I've been thinking a lot lately about the fruit we produce in our lives and
what that feels like and looks like as we grow older. What I've come to
realize is that good fruit comes from nourishing the qualities we
want to grow in ourselves - and that nourishment depends on where our roots are
planted.
You can only get good, healthy fruit if you plant yourself in fertile soil and
tend yourself well. So what kind of fruit do we want to produce, and what
soil do we need to be rooted in to achieve that?
WE BECOME WHAT WE'RE ROOTED IN
As I grow older, I have so many questions about what a worthwhile life really looks like. I used to think that it was about the legacy I wanted to leave, but it's more than that - it's about how I want to live authentically and graciously in the years I have left on this lovely earth. It's not about what I want to achieve so much as about who I want to become, and who I'm becoming shows in the fruit my life produces.
WHAT KIND OF FRUIT DO I WANT TO PRODUCE?
This thought process about fruit always takes me back to the Bible and the
fruit of the Spirit. There's nine of them and they're all qualities I want
to see more of in my own life. They are: love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galations
5:22-23).
I think the list begins with love because that's the key to the rest - if
we love others we want to develop in ways that bring joy and peace; we want
to be patient and kind and gentle. The paradox is, that you have to be
rooted in love to produce love. You need to find what fills your heart and
soul with enough love that you have plenty left over to give to others. You
need to soak love in to be able to flow love out, and it takes time to
develop mature, selfless love.
Love must grow over years and years to become mature. It must be cultivated and watered and nurtured and protected and worked on again and again.
Sally Clarkson
HOW DO I ROOT MYSELF IN LOVE?
How we root ourselves in love is the big question isn't it? Some people grow up rooted in love,
others find it later in life, and many are still seeking. I'd love to preach
a sermon on God's abiding love, and on centering ourselves in Him, but this
isn't that kind of blog. So, I'll just say that we need to find something
bigger and deeper and more loving than we are to rest our souls in. We need
to figure out what that kind of love looks like and to sink our roots down
into it, knowing that it's the source of what we will grow into.
If we root ourselves into our culture, or into what's online, or into what
we can buy, or what we can earn..... are we going to grow into who we want
to be? Only you can answer that question. I want to sink my roots into
abiding love and to see who I become and what I manifest from that. I'd hope
I can be a loving presence to those around me - patient, slow to get angry,
forgiving, and kind. It's a big ask for someone like me, so I keep watering
those roots to ripen the fruit I want to see grow.
WHAT TO DO WITH THE FRUIT WE PRODUCE
Producing fruit is pointless if we leave it on the tree. The purpose of
fruit is to offer it to others and allow it to nourish their lives. I love
this quote from Leticia Rae about how to share positivity and love with
others, and in doing so we contine to nurture ourselves. You can't offer
peace, healing, forgiveness, and love without it reciprocating and
developing these characteristics more in your own life.
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| via leticiarae.com |
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever stop to consider what you're centering and rooting your life
into? What fruit do you want to produce? And how would that look to others
in your life? I'd love you to share your thoughts in the comments.
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Hi, Leanne - Thank you for another thought-provoking post. Your closing questions are essential ones to ask ourselves regularly.
ReplyDeleteHi Donna - I think happy, content people have found where to put down their roots, and then share that with the rest of us. You're definitely one of those people. xx
DeleteNaturally my thoughts turned to baking and value-adding my fruit ie making it into lemon curd, preserving it for later, turning it into chutney. But I have no idea what that says about me lol. And yes, that did all come out loud.
ReplyDeleteWhat it says about you is that you are a caring, sharing, nurturing woman who always takes it to the next level with everything you do - especially baking! And I wish I lived closer so I could indulge in a little of that value-added fruit. x
DeleteWhat a thought provoking post Leanne! As you say love is the base of everything we do and produce.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Donna about your final questions being the ones to ask ourselves from time to time and I laughed out loud at Jo's comment.
Hi Deb - yes Jo's comment was more self-aware than she thought it was! And I'm glad you could relate to everything being done well if it's done in love - something our world needs more of IMHO. x
DeleteHi Leanne - For me, a great deal of my happiness also comes from the help I am for another person. That's where I have rooted myself. My fruits should be of use to others. Sometimes it's complicated because when I am not able to help someone, I am a bit disappointed. But I tell myself that it's not in my control so I can't do anything much about it.
ReplyDeleteHi Pradeep - I think that's the whole point of fruit isn't it? Flowers are pretty, but fruit gives life and nourishment - both of which we give if we help others. I've come to see that you can only help effectively when the other person is prepared to step up too, and if that can't happen then we know we've done our best - and that's enough. :)
DeleteLeanne - A very interesting way to think about things. I love the Leticia Rae quote, especially - did I bring a smile to someones face? A really wonderful way to think about "sharing the harvest" and one I can ask myself daily!.
ReplyDeleteHi Pat - I think when we're rooted into a good place, we are able to give more of ourselves to others without feeling depleted. When we reach out in small ways we bring a little joy and a lot of smiles into the world - and that's what community is all about. :)
DeleteThose are fabulous to ask each day (or at least periodically).
ReplyDeleteHi Jo - I think that quote just capped off a lot of what I've been thinking about lately. The need to be secure and grounded in ourselves so we can then reach out to others around us with genuine love and connection.
DeleteAlways interesting to read what you are thinking about and wanting to share with us Leanne. I am now someone who likes to plant the seeds of ideas and thoughts and allow them to germinate as they might instead of trying to make them grow! And its working well. Denyse
ReplyDeleteHi Denyse - I think we know we're rooted in the right place and producing the right fruit when it feels natural, easy, and positive. Your education roots are still down deep, and it's great to see that new fruit and flowers are budding...
DeleteYou always make me think. Been contemplating my roots and fruit as I read this. I am easily knocked off balance but I don't stay down for too long. So I hope I have encouraged resilience and strength in my daughters and their children. And love, lots and lots of love. I need to work on my patience, gentleness and self-control. Guess we are life-long works in progress.
ReplyDeleteHi Leslie - I think it's kind of a good thing that it takes a lifetime to reach our full potential. We get to grow and learn and become all we have the potential to be. I'm learning so much atm about the process of spiritual formation and that it's never too late to grow into a person of peace, joy, and love.
DeleteThere's so much to think about in this post, Leanne. I'm currently reading Oliver Burkeman's, 'Four Thousand Weeks' and reminding myself that time might be running out for me. Thinking about roots and fruits is certainly important to make what time I have left meaningful for me and others in my life.
ReplyDeleteHi Corinne - I read an article the other day when someone mentioned they had 20 Summers left - and that was a huge reminder of how short life is, and that we need to be preparing ourselves for eternity - and using the time we have left in the best way possible for ourselves and for others. x
DeleteLeanne,
ReplyDeleteA really thought provoking post...And one that has become center front in my own life...3 weeks ago, my life changed drastically in an instant... I now need to re-evaluate my entire life and begin to start a new one without my husband... I need to definitely put down those roots that will sow amazing fruits because tomorrow is not promised to any one...
Hugs,
Debbie,
Debbie-Dabble Blog
Hi Debbie - I hope you saw my comments on your blog posts to say how sorry I was to hear of Joe's sudden passing. I can't even begin to imagine what life is like for you at the moment - but I'm sure you're surrounded by love and I hope you sink your roots down deep into it so that you can feel supported and cared for until you're strong enough to bear some fruit for others in the years ahead xxx
Delete