Galatians 5:22-25 (NRSV)

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.  

Reflection:

A skill I learned at an early age was how to make a to-do list. Thanks, Mom! I make one every, single, day upon entering my office and maybe a few more throughout the day. The to-do list is a guardrail for the day keeping me focused and productive. This skill has served me well, but I have a love/hate relationship with these lists. How can something be so wonderful and also haunt me like the Ghost of Christmas Past? How can my to-do list be like a loyal friend who I’m certain would never let me forget something important and also be the thing that can shout at me deep from the depths of my purse at 11pm?!

 

Today’s scripture passage can have a similar effect if we let it. It can easily become a baptized to-do list. How often does one read a list like the Fruit of the Spirit and resolve right then and there that by golly “I’m going to be these things if it’s the last thing I do?” Only to get on the freeway and crush our fancy little “Holy Spirit Fruit Salad” the minute someone veers into our lane.  I once posted this list on the bathroom mirror as a desperate reminder for the start of each day. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control all become a sad, soured smoothie in the blender of a routine Tuesday. Somehow the desired effect is never achieved.

 

Perhaps I’m going about this all wrong. Maybe one cannot manifest, muster-up and “make fruit happen” in a real and lasting way without the Spirit being involved. Maybe this isn’t supposed to be on my to-do list at all. A tree doesn’t start with fruit on it. Fruit is a product of a tree that has been well tended, nourished. So if one wishes to have these fruits in their life then one must intentionally seek nourishment and, as this passage says, “live by the Spirit.” 

The life of the Christian is not about making fruit- that’s too heavy a burden. Instead our work, our to-do item, is to stay close to God, live faithfully, love God and be loved into wholeness by God. Instead of pursuing the fruit, pursue the one who gives the fruit. Live by the Spirit and the fruit can’t help but to show up.  

Prayer:

Jesus,

You are the vine, I am the branch. Help me today to abide with you. Keep me from shouldering burdens that are not mine to carry and may I simply draw near to you so that fruit can spring forth. May your Spirit be the guiding force in my life for the sake of the world. Amen.