Holy Unfolding

Amy Oden

Church of the Resurrection Insights Blog

Galatians 5:22-23

As I sit at the bedside of my beloved husband, Perry, in these final weeks of his life, I’m aware of a holy unfolding in him. I see the holy seeds God planted in his life, coming to full fruition. His life has unfolded over decades, with much fruit borne into the world and I give thanks.

The interesting thing about “fruit of the Spirit” is that fruits are not things we produce or make happen. Any more than we create the apples that grow on the apple tree we planted or make the leaves unfurl on a growing plant. Indeed, we plant the tree, we tend the soil, we nurture its growth. Yet, ultimately, we can only wait and watch to see if apples will emerge. And when they do, it’s like Christmas! A gift given, miraculous, mysterious, yet concrete and real.

All the fruits listed in Galatians 5:22-23 -- love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control -- are like that. We tend the soil of our lives, nurturing the seeds God has planted in us. Yet, ultimately, when one of these fruits, such as kindness, emerges, we are in awe. We are keenly aware that we did not create it, but that it shows up, miraculous and real. This holy unfolding is organic. We can only wonder at it.

Today, tend the soil of your life, nurture the seeds God has planted in you, wonder at the fruit. Amen.