SPIRITUALITY OF BEARING FRUIT - #4

You did not choose me but I chose you. 

And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last (Jn 15:16).

SEVEN LESSONS FROM A FRUIT TREE

Lesson #4: FRUITS ATTRACT WORMS!

The worms know which ones to attack. 

Good fruits invite worms, for the worms know which is the best and they attack that first. How many times have you been surprised by a worm when you reached right through the fruit with your knife. The worms can eat the fruit from within. It is not a sign that the fruit is bad, but that the good fruit has been invaded. 

After all the long and tiring process of bearing fruit, finally when the fruits begin to appear, there can be these worms that attack from within - the worms of misconceptions, the worms of decadence of values, the worms of discouragements, the worms of temptation, the worms of negativity and the worms of compromise.

Now the question is, what would you do when you see the worm? If you value the fruit really and you are well informed, you would try to work that worm out of the fruit and make the most of it. That is exactly what you need to do when you find these worms within you. Don't be harsh on yourself. It is unfortunate that you let these worms grow within you; sad they invaded you! But remember they are from within you and therefore you and you alone have the power to work them out of your lives. 

Work them out of your life with determination. Stop judging yourself and calling names. That is of no use. Look at the way to eliminate them from your life, letting your sweetness remain. You are basically a fruit; you are basically good! You are not the worm. The worm needs to go, not you! So rout them out of your life, now!

Consider Judas and Peter - they were good fruits! When they found the worm within them, they reacted in two different ways. One judged himself, condemned himself and lost his total self. The other noticed the worm, understood its nature, worked it out of his life and became a better fruit - so nourishing and so healthy. 

Though you spot a few worms at times within you, you are a good fruit. Believe in yourself and get rid of the worms!