We have spoken elsewhere of what growth is. It produces fruit that delights
the senses, and seed within the fruit multiplying delight into the future.

Self-growth must be full-orbed, giving equal prominence to the growth of our
Spirit, our Soul and our Body.

Here is a useful definition to help us understand how beautifully we are
knit together, and how important it is to grow in every way:

Our Body

Our body is the part of us that figures out the physical world. We use our
six (six? Yes, six!) senses to take in information. We taste, we smell, we
see, we hear, we feel and we discern.

The fruit of bodily growth is strength, an absence of pain, benign control
of all creation, good stewardship of our planet, comfort and physical
health. Good fruit will be absolute harmony between all living things, and
between all creatures and this planet that we call "Home."

The seed of our greatness is our ability to pass on our knowledge of the
physical world to succeeding generations, that they may build on it, for the
good of all people.

Our Soul

Our soul comprises our self-identity, our personality, our emotions, our
uniqueness. My soul is that which understands that "I am not you". I am
different, with my own unique reason for being in this world, and no one
else can be what I am, no one can achieve what I have been created for. And
this I celebrate!

The fruit of the growth of our souls is peace, joy and love. Good fruit will
be absolute harmony with ourselves and with others, an absence of conflict,
grief and hatred.

The seed of our greatness is our ability to pass on our mastery of the
blessings of reconciliation, forgiveness, generosity and acceptance to
succeeding generations, so that they can build on the foundations we have
laid.

Our Spirit

Our spirit is that with which we comprehend the unseen, the supernatural,
the inexplicable, the indefinable, the transcendent. A person who is
spiritually healthy knows that the spiritual world does exist, and that it
is eternal, that it is the ultimate Truth, and that it can only be
experienced with the heart, never fully comprehended with the mind alone.

The fruit of the growth of our spirits is an assurance of our eternal
destiny, a sense of our being bonded to the universe, in exactly the right
place in space and time, fully appreciating God's joy because of us, and
letting His image be seen in us. Good fruit is to be at harmony with God, a
God Who is Love.

The seed of our greatness is our ability to teach our children by word and
by example that our existence is not merely physical but fully-dimensioned,
and that we have the capacity to live a life of physical, emotional and
spiritual abundance, -and the ability to pass that on to those who succeed
us.

One Person, One Humanity, One Being

Although we speak of our body, mind and spirit, we are one person, and a
person with a name. I'm not just a human being. I am Paul. Think about it.
When you think of someone you know well, you are aware of how they look, the
sound of their voice, their temperament, their idealism - any number of
things that define who they are. But if someone asked you what you were
thinking about, you'd say: "I'm thinking of - Jane". One unique person,
living a total life, though many-faceted.

We are all different (thank goodness!), and if we are growing, we are
bearing good fruit as individuals.

But we also belong to a family, a community, a race, a country and a
humanity, and in each of these we have common physical traits, a common
emotional desire to belong, and a common spirituality in our search for
transcendence and for ultimate meaning.

In each of these we can bear good fruit as we grow together.
Does this sound too good to be possible?

Have you given up on the human race?

Don't!

All you need to do is to stop trying to fix the world from the top down.
Start with yourself. Tend and prune your life until you bear the best fruit
you can, and pass on what you have learned, good seed for your children.

Then you will be able to change your family, your community and your world.

Take care. Love, and be loved.
Paul
www.a-disciple.org