What kind of fruit is your behavior producing?

We know a tree from its fruit, as the popular proverb goes. If you want to grow as a person, or understand the effectiveness of your organization, this is the question to start with. What kind of observable effect do you have in yourself, in your environment, or your relationships? What would you want to see happening?

In the context of serving others, when you are influencing in an area that matches your passion and giftedness, you will produce good fruit. I want to share my personal experience. For years I struggled with the pattern of people agreeing with me and following my lead. After all, my passion is to always challenge others to think for themselves and challenge me in return! But then I realized that God has granted me a special talent for leadership, and I should embrace it in order to serve Him well. Once I understood this dynamic, I have been able to lean into my natural tendencies: As a coach I get to challenge and empower others so that they become better leaders - leaders of themselves or leaders of others. Fully embracing this calling helps me be more observant for my need and responsibility for personal growth (or as Jesus calls it, repentance). While I’m free to practice my gifts with passion and energy every day, I grow and mature by reflecting on not just my accomplishments but also my mistakes and shortcomings.

I believe that the same is true for every human being. God has energized and given gifts to each one of us to be ‘the man for the job’ while living our best life. Our joy and burden is to understand what our duties and possibilities are in different stages of our lives, and even in every passing moment. That said, it is not always about ‘a job’ – rather, it is about showing up and being present the way that is needed in the given time and place. For example, being the best possible spouse, sometimes all you need to ‘do’ is to BE and intentionally give a safe space for your significant other. …And sometimes that can be more work than anything else you did the whole week.