Alan Fadling's Blog, page 2

UL #366: Exposing the Lies We Live By: Finding Identity Beyond Advertising

 

Every day, we are bombarded with thousands of messages promising happiness, comfort, or even identity if only we buy the right product. But beneath the noise of advertising lies a deeper reality: we are already loved, already chosen, already whole in Christ. In this episode, Gem Fadling shines a light on how consumer slogans shape our sense of self and offers a way back to the truth of God’s word. 

 

This conversation explores the difference between the “false self” and the “true self,” and invites us to embrace the pace of grace rather than the rush of consumption. 

 

Listen in to learn: 

How advertising shapes our view of identity and worth 
The difference between the “imposter self” and the “true self” 
How scripture re-anchors us in God’s love and presence 

Unhurried Productivity: Get More Done Without the Rush (Part 1)

Blog by Gem Fadling

Today, we’re diving into a question I hear often: “How can I be productive without feeling rushed or overwhelmed?”

 

Let’s begin with the word “productive.” I know I used it in the title and the opening question…and yet, I want us to consider pivoting to the word “fruitful” for our conversation here. The idea of productivity is fine, but sometimes it can trigger my proclivity toward bolstering my ego or staying unconsciously busy.

 

Fruitfulness is certainly a word from the Gospels, and I think it’s a more suitable way for us to move forward in our process of unhurried leadership. In John 15, Jesus speaks of much fruit that lasts. That is what I want in my life, and I’m guessing you desire this too.

We’ve all had days packed with meetings, to-do lists, and that pressured feeling of being behind. It’s exhausting. But what if I told you that you could actually get more done by being...unhurried?

 

Allowing stress or anxiety to be our internal engine can squeeze out creativity, discernment, and focus. If we learn to have a revved-down inner pace, we can stay open to all three of these beautiful gifts. More and better work could emerge from a less stressed body and mind.

 

Even top experts who coach executives are now touting the benefits of doing less, focusing, starting small, and engaging in some sort of meditation.

It is possible to be fruitful without being frazzled.

One of the reasons we feel stressed or overwhelmed is because we are using our busyness to distract ourselves. And then we want to distract ourselves from our stressed feelings, so you can see how this is a vicious cycle.

 

The ideas I’m sharing can help move us out of mindless distraction and into a more intentional way forward. These ideas aren’t inflexible rules or life hacks. Think of them as guidelines you can adapt to fit your day-to-day life.

 

Start with a Grounding Morning Routine

Your morning sets the tone for your entire day. Begin with something simple that helps you feel centered. Maybe it’s a few minutes of praying, journaling, or even a simple breath prayer (The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want, Psalm 23).

 

This isn’t about cramming in a long checklist of morning habits, it’s about choosing one or two practices that help you wake up gently and set an intention for your day.

 

Prioritize What Really Matters

Not all tasks are created equal. It’s good to focus on what truly matters.

Ask yourself, “What are the most impactful or important things I need to address today?” By narrowing down your focus, you eliminate the noise and make space for meaningful work. Even on a day when you have many appointments, knowing what is most important for you keeps you focused and intentional.

 

One thing that helps with this is planning ahead. It is very difficult to prioritize when you are at the mercy of other people’s demands. A good rhythm of life is imperative if you want to be able to prioritize that which matters most. I’ve created a video that will help you begin a rhythm of life, so be sure to check it out.

 

Time Blocking with Flexibility

Time blocking is a powerful tool to organize your day—and remember to remain flexible, because of course surprises happen. Break your day into chunks for focused concentration work, meetings, breaks, and personal time. Allow some buffer time between each block to avoid feeling rushed. Buffer time can become your new best friend.

 

I do this and it works well for me. My mornings are for spiritual practices and concentration work, such as writing or preparing talks. Then late morning to mid-afternoon is for appointments, and late afternoon is for any additional admin that needs to be worked on. I also try to set aside one day per week and one week per month that is focused solely on content creation. This allows me to sink into deep work without distraction.

 

Practice Single-Tasking

We live in a world that celebrates multitasking, but it’s one of the biggest productivity myths. When you try to juggle multiple tasks at once, you muddy your focus and end up feeling scattered.

Give your full attention to one thing at a time. It’s all you can really do anyway. Multitasking is a myth. You give only a portion of yourself to two or more items as you switch back and forth between them. This also trains you in non-presence. You can only be fully present to one thing or person at a time. So choose to single-task. Your heart, mind, and body will thank you.

 

I’ve got four more ideas for you that I’ll share in two weeks. For now, spend some time with these reflection questions and feel free to try one of these this week.

 

For Reflection:

Which of these ideas would you like to try on this week?
What are your thoughts about productivity vs. fruitfulness?
What might a greater inward focus do for your own heart and intentions?

 

UL #365: Fresh Springs for a Busy Life

 

Where do you turn when your soul feels thirsty? In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling reflects on Psalm 87:7, “All my fresh springs are in You.” We explore how God alone is our true source of renewal, even when we’re tempted to drink from counterfeit springs like busyness, control, or distraction.

Drawing on the imagery of living water and daily bread, Alan shares how this one line of scripture can become a simple, grounding prayer to carry through your day. Discover how God’s presence can be a hidden well of strength in your work, relationships, and everyday life.

If you’ve ever felt spiritually dry, restless, or weary, this conversation will help you return to the fresh, unending stream of God’s life in you.

What you’ll learn:

Why Psalm 87:7 offers such a powerful picture of spiritual renewal
• How to recognize “counterfeit springs” that leave us empty
• Practical ways to carry scripture into the ordinary moments of your day
• How prayer, silence, and Sabbath help us drink deeply from God’s presence

Listen in and discover how God can be your fresh spring of life, energy, and joy.

Reproductive, Not Just Productive

Blog by Alan Fadling

1. Growth That Preserves the Soil

In the first part of this reflection from two weeks ago, we explored how fruitfulness in the way of Jesus is never the result of mere effort but always the outcome of abiding. We contrasted hurried, mechanical productivity with the organic, sustainable growth that comes from staying connected to the Vine.

 

Now, we continue the conversation—asking what happens when rapid growth comes at the cost of soul health, when the demands of ministry become heavier than the yoke Jesus offers. Wendell Berry’s agricultural metaphors keep inviting us to see that lasting fruit, in ministry or leadership, never comes from exhausting the soil—or the people. Here’s another quotation that has helped me a lot!

 

“If agriculture is to remain productive, it must preserve the land, and the fertility and ecological health of the land; the land, that is, must be used well. A further requirement, therefore, is that if the land is to be used well, the people who use it must know it well, must be highly motivated to use it well, must know how to use it well, must have time to use it well, and must be able to afford to use it well…. In light of the necessity that the farmland and the farm people should thrive while producing, we can see that the single standard of productivity has failed.”*

 

2. Nurturing People, Not Just Programs

In other words, true fruitfulness doesn’t deplete the soil—or the people. It nourishes both.

 

Lasting ministry preserves the community through which it is lived. It nurtures the people rather than using people to support the program. In a healthy environment, programs serve the health and growth of the people—not the other way around.

 

Leaders who seek lasting fruit must, in Berry’s language, know their people well, value them above structures or budgets, and see spiritual maturity as more important than programmatic expansion.

 

We often default to measuring what’s easiest: attendance, giving, activity. But that doesn’t mean those are the most important or the most lasting metrics. Deepening faith is simply harder to measure.

 

I don’t think we want numerical growth that comes with a loss of joy, peace, or soul health. Fruit that lasts grows from the unforced rhythms of grace—peaceful, grounded, full of love. If the cost of our growth is growing anxiety and exhaustion, that’s a red flag.

 

3. Fruitfulness Is Always Relational

Now here’s another line from Berry that really struck me:

 

“Farming cannot take place except in nature; therefore, if nature does not thrive, farming cannot thrive.”†

 

A mentor of mine often said, “Jesus didn’t die for programs. He died for people.” But sometimes our work can become more program-driven than people-centered. Programs matter—but only as they serve people.

 

I remember times as a young pastor getting frustrated with college students because they didn’t show up to my program. That frustration revealed something in me: I had started to care more about the programs I planned than the souls entrusted to my care.

 

Ministry happens among people. Lasting fruit is relational, not mechanical. It is the overflow of communion with God. It is born in community. And it’s that quality of life together that makes the fruit both abundant and lasting.

 

4. Beware the Metaphor of the Machine

Let’s not confuse numerical growth with spiritual growth. Marketing and excellent programming can bring people in. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s producing lasting kingdom fruit. The kingdom grows organically and relationally. If Jesus had meant to build a business, he would have chosen a very different strategy. And no one could have done it better than him.

 

One more quote from Berry that I’ve returned to often:

 

“It may turn out that the most powerful and the most destructive change of modern times has been a change in language: the rise of the image, or metaphor, of the machine.”‡

 

When I think about how church has changed over the years, this resonates deeply. In my early days as a Christian, the church felt like a family. A community. Not a machine. But over time, I’ve seen language shift—churches adopting business metaphors or even entertainment metaphors.

 

Jesus didn’t speak of his people as machines. He used images like wheat and shepherds, vines and branches. These are organic images. Life doesn’t flourish in mechanical molds—it fractures.

 

5. Fruit That Carries Seeds

 And finally, this line from Berry, one of my favorites:

 

“There is really no such thing, then, as natural production; in nature, there is only reproduction.”§

 

Kingdom fruitfulness isn’t just productivity—it’s re-productivity. Lasting fruit isn’t just output, but about people who are transformed and who, in turn, help transform others. That’s the fruit that blesses the heart of the Father.

 

This is how nature works: Fruit contains the seeds of future fruit. This is the kind of growth we want to seek in the church. That’s the nature of fruit that lasts.

 

Thank you for taking time to read. I hope this conversation has stirred your imagination for what fruitful, sustainable ministry might look like in your own life and leadership.

 

As you reflect, consider: Where have I mistaken busyness for fruitfulness? What might it look like to remain more deeply connected to the Vine in my own work?

 

This week, you might experiment by slowing down one task—doing it prayerfully, attentively, unhurriedly. Or take a few moments each day to ask:

Am I working with God or merely for God today?
Who is my work truly blessing?
Who am I actually serving?

 

Kingdom fruitfulness is always relational. Always organic. It grows slowly, beneath the surface, like roots deepening in good soil. When we slow down enough to truly see people, to serve them rather than the systems we’ve built, something holy happens. That kind of fruit multiplies. It carries within it the seeds of renewal—not just for others but for our own weary hearts. May we keep choosing the unhurried way, the abiding way, the fruitful way.

 

For Reflection:

Where might I be prioritizing programs over people? What would it look like to reverse that order this week?
What kind of "fruit" am I producing—and is it the kind that carries seeds for future growth?
Have I embraced metaphors of machinery instead of Jesus’ images of organic life?

 

*Wendell Berry, Bringing It to the Table (Counterpoint Press, 2009), p. 6.

†Berry, Bringing It to the Table, p. 7.

‡Berry, Bringing It to the Table, p. 19.

Berry, Bringing It to the Table, p. 22.

 

 

 

 

UL #364: The Heart of True Hospitality (Laura Murray)

 

Hospitality is more than setting a table or opening your home. It’s a posture of the heart—a way of seeing and responding to the people God places in your path. True hospitality flows from God’s generous welcome to us and creates spaces of belonging wherever we go.

In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Gem Fadling talks with Laura Murray, author of Becoming a Person of Welcome, about moving from performance-based hosting to a transformed life of welcome. Drawing from her Armenian heritage, years in church leadership, and a rich theology of God’s hospitality, Laura offers practical steps for cultivating authentic connection, listening deeply, setting healthy boundaries, and leading others into a lifestyle of welcome.

Whether you’re a ministry leader, a community builder, or simply someone longing for relationships rooted in grace, this conversation will inspire you to carry God’s presence into everyday moments.

Listen in to learn:

Why hospitality is a posture, not a program
How to reflect God’s welcome in daily life
Ways to create authentic belonging without performance pressure
Spiritual practices that shape a hospitable heart

Connect with Laura Murray:

Website: www.digitalsilentretreats.com
Book: Becoming a Person of Welcome

Setting Boundaries with Grace and Courage

Blog by Gem Fadling

Have you ever found yourself walking on eggshells around someone? Maybe it’s a family member, a coworker, or even a close friend. Their words or actions leave you feeling drained, hurt, or even questioning your own worth.

 

Let’s explore together how to engage with difficult people in a way that honors both your dignity and theirs. We are going to look at five ways to set boundaries and stay true to yourself, even in challenging relationships.

 

Acknowledge the Pain

Before we dig into the five ways, let’s acknowledge the hurt. Difficult relationships are painful. Whether it’s controlling behavior or constant criticism, the wounds are real.

 

Romans 12 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Notice it says ”if it is possible, as far as it depends on you.” That means sometimes, despite our best efforts, peaceful connection isn’t fully attainable. And that’s not a failure, it’s just how it is with some people.

 

We don’t control others. They still get to decide how they will act and what they will do. The good news is that we get to do the same. We can choose to relate to others in healthy ways, even if they do not receive it.

 

So, take a deep breath. It’s okay to admit that someone’s actions are hurting you. Feeling this pain means you’re human. And the good news? You’re not powerless. You have choices.

 

Let’s look at five ways you can respond with grace and strength.

 

Know Your Worth

Before you even respond to difficult behavior, it’s good to remember your own value. Ephesians 2 reminds us that “we are God’s masterpiece.” Engaging this reality allows some holy confidence to bolster you from within.

 

You can grow to acknowledge your own thoughts and feelings without needing others to affirm them. Remind yourself: “I am loved by God, and my thoughts and feelings matter.”

 

This is not a Band-Aid-sized idea. For some of us it may take a little time to believe this more deeply. But continue to practice remembering you are a beloved child of God. And then let this inform your intentions and actions.

 

Set Clear Boundaries

Boundaries are not walls. They are “yards” that protect your emotional well-being.

 

On his website, psychologist Dr. Henry Cloud says this:

“Boundaries define us. They define what is me and what is not me. A boundary shows me where I end and someone else begins, leading me to a sense of ownership. Knowing what I am to own and take responsibility for gives me freedom. If I know where my yard begins and ends, I am free to do with it what I like.”

 

As we grow in our understanding of what Dr. Cloud teaches, we can learn to practice clear communication. For example, you could say, “I can’t continue this conversation if the tone remains hurtful.” You’re not rejecting the person; you’re setting a boundary around the harmful behavior.

 

You get to decide how you will be treated, so set clear boundaries. And this doesn’t have to be done with a jackhammer. You can state your desire simply and clearly, and with as much grace as you can muster. Which leads us to our next point…

 

Speak Truth with Grace

It’s tempting to either explode in anger or remain silent to avoid conflict. But we can be honest without being harsh. You don’t have to match the toxicity of the other person.

 

Try using “I” statements to express your feelings without blaming: “I feel hurt when my ideas are dismissed.” “I” statements can keep you from becoming defensive.

 

Holy confidence can be accessed here to graciously say what you need or want. And if you don’t feel equipped to have an exchange with someone, that moves us into our next idea…

 

Seek Wise Counsel

You don’t have to navigate this alone.

 

Seek out a trusted and wise friend, a mentor, a coach, or a therapist. Sometimes an outside perspective helps us see what we’re too close to recognize. A spiritual director can also help you discern how God might be inviting you to move through this relationship.

 

I have benefited greatly from trusted friends, my spiritual director, and my therapist. I have found more freedom and healing as I lean into my own dynamics. I not only know myself better, but I know how to communicate with others in a healthier way.

 

And if you don’t have access to or can’t afford this type of support, there are many books written on the topic of boundaries. And Dr. Henry Cloud is a foremost expert on this. Get the support you need.

 

Practice Forgiveness

Forgiveness isn’t about excusing bad behavior, it’s about releasing your heart from bitterness. You don’t have to continue to tolerate the bad behavior of others. You do get to choose not to let resentment control you.

 

Forgiveness sets you free and keeps bitterness at bay, even if the relationship remains complicated. Again, on this one you might need some support to make your way. The same support I mentioned in seeking wise counsel would apply here.

 

Dealing with difficult people is one of life’s hardest challenges, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. God is with you, offering wisdom, strength, and connection.

 

By knowing your worth, setting boundaries, speaking truth with grace, seeking wise counsel, and practicing forgiveness, you can engage these relationships with courage and compassion.

 

For Reflection: 

How do you feel about setting boundaries? What part do you struggle with?
How might you receive the invitation to acknowledge and work through the pain you have endured in a difficult relationship?
Which part of the process seems most helpful to you?
Talk to God about all of this and see where it leads you.

 

UL #363: Why Rest is More Than a Day Off (Travis West)

 

What if rest isn’t a luxury—but essential to your calling? In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling talks with Travis West, author of The Sabbath Way, about how Sabbath can renew leaders from the inside out. Far from being just a “day off,” Sabbath is a way of living that restores joy, deepens trust in God, and sustains our calling in a productivity-driven culture.

 

We’ll explore why Sabbath is a quiet but powerful form of leadership, how it reshapes our relationship with time, and why it’s key to resisting burnout. Whether you’re a pastor, ministry leader, or simply longing for a more unhurried pace with God, this conversation will inspire you to let grace set the pace.

 

In this episode:

Why Sabbath is more than a day of rest
How Sabbath restores joy, gratitude, and delight
The dangers of “false rest” and how to avoid them
Moving from urgency to abundance in leadership
Practical steps to start a Sabbath rhythm this week

 

#SabbathWay #TravisWest #SabbathRest #UnhurriedLiving #ChristianLeadership #SpiritualFormation #RestAndWork #LeadershipHealth #BurnoutRecovery #SlowDownToLead #MinistryLife #SoulCareForLeaders

 

For more help in practicing the Sabbath, visit Travis West’s website for a free resource at https://www.travis-west.com/practices.

 

Abiding Overachieving: A Leader’s Reframe

Blog by Alan Fadling

1. The Fruitless Cost of Busyness

I’ve been recommending a more unhurried way of living and leading for years now. And I still cross paths with leaders who are drawn to this message but who carry a common concern: Will I still get things done? To be fair, I’ve wrestled with that question myself. But as I lean into the unhurried way of Jesus as I’ve come to understand it, I’ve come to believe that we often confuse busyness with fruitfulness—and in doing so, we miss the deeper invitation of Jesus.

 

2. What If Unhurried Work Is More Fruitful?

I wrote about this concern in An Unhurried Life in a chapter titled “Productivity: Unhurried Isn’t Lazy.” But some still hear the language of “unhurried” and can’t help assessing it as not quite productive enough.

 

In today’s article, and in a follow-up to it in a couple of weeks, I’ll share some insights from John 15 and from the writings of Wendell Berry that have helped me in this area. I want to help you envision an unhurried way of productivity that is also more sustainable. A way of productivity that is rooted not in frantic effort but in abiding presence and fruit that truly lasts.

 

Here's one conviction I’ve come to: We often radically overestimate the lasting value of busyness. Haven’t you ever gotten to the end of a busy day, a busy week, or a busy season and wondered if anything you did actually mattered in the end? That’s another way of asking, “Is what I’m busy doing going to have a lasting impact?”

 

3. Remaining in the Vine

Jesus seems to speak to this in a well-known Upper Room passage about a vine and its branches in John 15. Listen to these familiar sentences in view of our theme of work productivity:

 

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (verse 4)

 

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (verse 5)

 

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (verse 16)

 

Jesus is saying that it is impossible to be fruitful on our own. Only a life lived and work done in communion with Jesus is going to be eternally fruitful by the measure of God’s kingdom values. Apart from the vine, a branch withers. In the vine, the branch flourishes. It’s quite possible to be busy apart from Jesus, but it is absolutely impossible to be fruitful apart from him. And sometimes, it is exactly our busyness that is keeping us disconnected from Jesus.

 

4. Learning to Farm Like a Pastor

One source of encouragement in this way of thinking about kingdom productivity has come to me (and to many) from an unexpected source. I remember years ago reading Eugene Peterson and hearing him talk about one of his favorite authors, a Kentucky farmer and poet by the name of Wendell Berry. Berry writes a lot about sustainable farming in contrast to the decades-long trend toward the more mechanical, mass production orientation in farming we might call agribusiness.

 

Peterson basically says that as we read Berry’s writings, whenever Berry says “farmer,” we could think “pastor” instead. Whenever he says “farm,” we could think “church” or “ministry.” And you don’t have to be a religious leader to benefit from Berry’s wisdom. As I began reading Berry’s writing, this framework helped me hear his farming wisdom in my work life. It gave me a vision for productivity that was more organic and less like an assembly line.

 

I could share pages of quotations from Berry’s writings that have helped me. I have a library shelf full of his books. Instead, I’ve chosen one book titled Bringing It to the Table, which is a collection of essays subtitled “On Farming and Food.” I could recommend many of his other books, but this is a fine one to get a taste for his message, his values, and his priorities.

 

Let me share some lines from these essays and reflect aloud on the intersections I see between his vision of sustainable productivity and what I’m calling kingdom fruitfulness.

 

In this passage, Berry talks about the hidden costs of a certain sort of agricultural productivity: “We have been winning, to our inestimable loss, a competition against our own land and our own people. At present, what we have to show for this ‘victory’ is a surplus of food. But this is a surplus achieved by the ruin of its sources.”*

 

Berry’s point is this: High output from an industrial approach to farming has often come at the cost of ruining the land itself. The land needs increasing industrial inputs to keep up those levels of output.

 

In contrast, a more organic approach to farming allows the land to remain as healthy as it was before the planting—or even become more productive over time.

 

Do you see the parallel with our sometimes mass-production approach to our work? In my case, having worked in the field of ministry, we may celebrate rapid numerical growth, but we rarely hear about volunteer turnover or staff burnout that may be quietly fueling that growth. I hear those stories on the other end. I’ve seen more emergency sabbaticals in the past five years than in the previous two decades. Some leaders are profoundly weary.

 

Now, let me be clear: I’m not saying that all large ministries are automatically unwell. These dynamics show up in organizations of every size. And every ministry can do well, and can do better, regardless of its size.

 

When Jesus talks about productivity in John 15, he speaks of both quantity and quality: bearing much fruit and bearing fruit that will last. Kingdom productivity grows in quantity because of its quality. That’s how the early church grew. It’s hard to locate a strategic plan among those early church leaders. The church grew because they cultivated a contagious way of life. Their fruitfulness looked far more like an organic farm than a manufacturing plant.

 

In two weeks, I’ll continue sharing insights I’ve gained from Wendell Berry’s writings.

 

For Reflection:

Where in my life am I mistaking busyness for fruitfulness?
What practices help me remain connected to the Vine—especially in seasons of high output?
What kind of fruit am I bearing—and will it last?

 

*Wendell Berry, Bringing It to the Table (Counterpoint Press, 2009), p. 5.

 

 

 

UL #362: Abide and Flourish: Breaking Free from the Productivity Trap (Gem with Bette Dickinson)

 

For many of us, faith has been shaped by pressure to perform and produce. But in John 15, Jesus gives us another way: abiding in the True Vine. In this episode, Gem Fadling sits down with artist and author Bette Dickinson to explore how God as the loving Vinedresser leads us not toward exhaustion, but toward flourishing.

If you’ve felt weighed down by striving or longed for a slower, more organic spirituality, this conversation will help you rediscover a rooted, fruitful faith.

 

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why God’s primary concern isn’t productivity but flourishing

The difference between an industrial approach to faith and an organic one

How natural seasons reflect Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection

The meaning of abiding as our place of belonging and identity in Christ

How to trust fruit will emerge over time without forced busyness

 

Resources & References Mentioned:

The Art of Vinemaking: Flourishing in a Productivity-Driven Culture

Making Room in Advent by Bette Dickinson

John 15: The Vine and the Branches

About Today’s Guest – Bette Dickinson
Bette Dickinson is a prophetic artist, author, and contemplative guide. Through her writing, artwork, and teaching, she invites others to encounter God’s presence in embodied and imaginative ways. She is the author of The Art of Vinemaking and  Making Room in Advent: 25 Devotions for a Season of Wonder.

 

Feeling Off Spiritually? Here’s the Soul Checkup You Didn’t Know You Needed

Blog by Gem Fadling

When I go in for my yearly well-woman checkup, I’m trusting my doctor to check all my systems and let me know if I’m healthy. But before I meet with her, a nurse comes in to check my vitals.

 

The nurse checks my blood pressure, weight, height, and pulse. I also receive an online questionnaire every year before my checkup. Multiple questions are asked about my family history, current physical ailments, sleep patterns, medications I’m taking, and more.

 

All of this information is used in evaluating my current physical state.

 

I do find it interesting that the nurse doesn’t listen to my heart. This important task is reserved for the doctor. The doctor wants to hear for herself what is going on with my breathing and my heartbeat, two critical systems.

 

Unsurprisingly, my medical team doesn’t do all this so they can judge me. They do it so they can assess my health and help me.

 

This idea came to mind as I was pondering the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. For far too long, I thought of the fruit of the Spirit as a measuring stick to show me the ways in which I was not living up to God’s ideals: I’m not patient enough. What happened to my self-control? I should be more kind.

 

But the key word here is always fruit. Good fruit emerges when a tree or plant has been carefully tended—watered, fertilized, and nurtured. I don’t make apples; I tend the apple tree and fruit emerges. This is a much more compelling way to approach this.

 

If good fruit seems sparse in your life, it might be wise to assess, just like a doctor, what is going on in the state of your heart, mind, body, and soul.

 

Rather than seeing the fruit of the Spirit as a set of rules to keep or as a way for God to judge us, what if we instead saw it as a way of checking in with ourselves to see if how we are living is producing what we desire?

 

A good tree produces good fruit. I know it may be cheeky of me to say this, but if your fruit is sparse or rotting on the tree, it might be good to consider why.

 

Let’s look at Galatians 5:22-24 from The Message:

 

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

 

Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.”

 

The fruit of the Spirit is not about legalistically measuring yourself. It’s about noticing if good fruit is naturally emerging from within as you tend your own soul with God.

 

Like a doctor listening to your heartbeat, the fruit of the Spirit is a good indicator of the state of your spiritual health.

 

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

 

Like a gardener or farmer tending an orchard, how might you make space for this fruit to emerge? What kinds of practices would form you?

 

It’s always good to pause, notice, and get the support you need to graciously correct course. Remember, none of us are perfect. We are all making our way in-process. And yet, you can notice whether the Spirit’s attributes are showing up in your day-to-day life.

 

Give thanks for the progress you’ve made and make space to till the soil of your soul in places you notice are underdeveloped. All of this is done in love, grace, and kindness.

 

Let’s allow Galatians 5:25-26 to encourage us toward taking holy action:

 

“Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.” (Message)

 

For Reflection:

I offer here one reflection question per fruit. Notice how God is already at work in your life. I invite you to print this and use it during one of your next quiet times, sabbaths, or retreats.

 

Love: Where in my life am I being invited to extend love more freely or courageously, even when it feels hard?

 

Joy: What small or hidden joy might I be overlooking that is already present in my life today?

 

Peace: In what area of my life am I longing for peace, and how might I cooperate with God to cultivate it?

 

Patience: Who or what is teaching me patience right now, and how might I embrace that growth opportunity rather than resist it?

 

Kindness: Where could a simple act of kindness, even one that goes unseen, make a meaningful difference this week?

 

Goodness: How am I being invited to live with greater integrity and goodness, especially when no one else is watching?

 

Faithfulness: What is one area of my life where staying faithful feels challenging, and what encouragement might God be offering me to persevere?

 

Gentleness: Where in my life or relationships would a spirit of gentleness instead of force or control bring healing?

 

Self-control: What desire or impulse might I need to surrender more fully to God’s guidance to live more freely and wisely?