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No good tree bears bad fruit nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:43-45).

I wish you and I could walk on a Briar Chapel trail and talk about this scripture. There we would be surrounded by trees—flourishing trees, rotting trees, and all degrees of tree life in between. It would be a great place to stop in our tracks and ponder the meaning of life. 

“Life.” We can’t actually see life, but we can see evidence of life, and evidence of the absence of life. 

The flourishing trees are drawing life from earth, air, and water, and then sending life out into the world via their leaves, seed pods, and fruit.

The rotting trees are not connected to what sustains life and consequently have no life to send out into the world.

Our scripture this week is an example of the many times the Holy Spirit inspired the authors of scripture to use trees as metaphors for humans. After all, like trees, we can show evidence of life and of the absence of life.

A tree separated from earth, air and water cannot flourish. A person separated from God cannot flourish. The fruit of that separated tree will be shriveled, sour, hard, and hard to swallow. The fruit of that separated person will be the same.

The point is, the closer and longer our connection with the Source of Life, the more Life will be in the thoughts we think, the words we speak, and the things we do.

Another way trees are a good metaphor for us humans is that they grow. It can take a while for a young tree to mature and produce good fruit, but gradually it does. Environmental conditions can also influence fruit production. Some years scant fruit will appear, other years abundant fruit will appear. 

We can take heart, then, for we too grow in the Lord. In some respects, we are immature and produce limited fruit. In other respects, we have a mature longing for God’s life and consequently grow abundant fruit.

With your mind’s eye, picture a flourishing tree. (Or, if you have such a tree outside your window, gaze at it.) Ponder the way life flows into and out from that tree.

Quiet yourself as God reveals the way His life flows into and out through you. Be especially aware of what you see regarding your words and their impact.

As you stay still with God you will be receiving His life. His life will enliven your desire to produce good fruit. As this happens you will be enabled to disagree deeply and love deeper still.