Fruits of the Spirit & Rhythms of Life by Jo Beth
…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.” (Galatians 5:26, NRSV)
At my best moments, I have been all of these things—loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, generous, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. And at my worst, I’ve been the opposite. Humans are complicated and messy, and it’s hard, at times, to avoid falling into the self-congratulatory trap of comparing myself in my best moments to others in their worst. But if we are going to live in community with one other, and “bear one another’s burdens,” as we are called to do in Galatians 6:2, we will have to find a common ground—where we aim to be a little better each day (but being gracious to ourselves when we fall short), and where we aim to be forgiving of others when they fall short (while still supporting others’ efforts at growth).
The fruits of the Sprit don’t just magically appear on their own; they have their roots in Christ, but they also grow out of what we plant in our hearts and nurture through our habits. The Gospel of Luke reminds us that “it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks” (6:45). In the same way, the words we speak and the actions we take—whether generous or ungenerous, patient or impatient, gentle or harsh—often arise from the habits and rhythms that fill our days.
So how might we tend our lives so that what overflows reflects the fruit of the Spirit—so that others see in us a truer, more grace-filled reflection of Jesus? I know that for me, I tend to reflect Christ best when I take time to center myself (“center” was actually my RCCC Star Word this year!). I am most able to engage with and respond to others in a Christ-like way when I have cared for the body, soul, and mind I’ve been given. When I make time for friends and loved ones, stay physically active, nourish my mind with books, music, or podcasts that stir curiosity and wonder, limit my intake of internet and social media, eat well, drink more water, and ease up on caffeine —all of these help me live from a place of balance. I also find I’m far more able to meet others with grace when I’m well-rested and have made space for prayer and meditation.
We all have our own unique “recipe” for centering and wellbeing. Some ingredients may be shared (quiet time, family, church community) and others may be quite different, such as the hobbies we enjoy, the nature of our work, or whether we’re most energized by solitude or by time with others. I think what’s important is to ask ourselves: Is what we’re doing in our day to day lives setting us up so that our words and actions are a genuine and good reflection of Jesus? If not, what could we add in, or remove, from our daily schedules so that we’re in a better position to do that? A good question to reflect on may be, “When I am at my best, and my actions and words most reflect love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, what is it that I’ve been doing that helped me reach that place?”
Thomas Merton once wrote, “Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul.” Each day, we plant seeds in what we choose to do, dwell on, and take in. What are you cultivating in your soul (and mind, and body) today?