God is a high-yield gardener

One thing I do is try to write honestly. I could be honestly right, or honestly wrong. But always honest I have a friend at church who deals with Seasonal Affective Disorder — or SAD. She said to me last Sunday — as we approach the gray skies, leafless trees, and frozen ground of Thanksgiving time — “I can feel it pulling me down.”

She's not alone.  There are those who cannot live in northern climes for this very reason.  And we all probably know a “snowbird” or two or three — come November they're gone. I still laugh over that cartoon, “You know it's autumn in Arizona when the license plates start changing color.” 

So there's SAD, and if that's not enough there is always something happening somewhere to bring on that “pulling me down” feeling. I felt it a few days ago. It led me straight to the fridge, by way of the cupboard — and I proceeded to overeat for two days.  

That was a mirage. It solved nothing. Our nearby family who moved to Kentucky last January were still in Kentucky. I didn't get any younger. It was still cold outside. Tragedy in the news didn't stop. The only thing that was different was myself. I felt like a failure. I felt joyless. 

There's a year — around fruit, that the Bible speaks of — the “fruit of the Spirit.” It is fruit singular but with a ninefold yield. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Sounds like the perfect antidote for SAD — and a host of other “pull-me-downs.” 

God and I had a conversation.  “I blew joy and self-control today,” I said. “They're not lost to you,” He said.  “Well, where are they?” I asked. “They are My fruit. I tend them in you. You've forgotten. You think you're on your own.” 

“So You're saying I don't have to do anything?”  “No, I didn't say that,” He answered. I said, “You are really confusing me.”

“It's this simple,” He said. “All this fruit is who I am. Jesus brought it to earth — and we give it by our Spirit to whoever believes in Him. But you have the choice to ignore it — to conceal it. You have to take hold of it. You have to let it live in you. You know those words, 'taste and see that the Lord is good'? Well, you have to do that.” 

“But I get like this, and I don't even have the energy or the will to reach for You.” 

“Then let Me reach for you. I don't need a very wide gate. Open just a crack — it's enough.” 

He was exactly right. I let Him in to all the glum. He dug around. Soon He had me thanking Him for the many good things in my life. He had me out walking in His cold, but beautiful world. He had me reading in the Good News, and not just the news. I felt stronger in my spirit, so I didn't chase excess sugar comfort. 

My fruit reappeared. And here I am writing honestly about what happened.  Will it occur again? Undoubtedly. Because I don't always make helpful choices. I bury the fruit. But the fruit is there. And God is a high yield gardener.