Waiting for Mangoes to Fall

Today I heard an interesting story from a man who recently visited an island located in the South Pacific Ocean.  As he was driving to a meeting in the morning, he noticed a woman sitting with a small child under a mango tree.  Several hours later, he passed by the same woman - who was still sitting under the same tree.  He asked his guide, "So what is that woman doing under that tree?  Is she waiting for a bus?"  "Oh no," the guide responded.  "She is waiting for a mango to fall.  When a mango falls, she will eat it."  The guide went on to explain when children are older, they become skilled at climbing trees and develop the skill of accurately throwing rocks to cause targeted mangos to fall.  Though her child was not yet able to speed up the process, the woman was content to wait for a mango to fall.

There is a lesson in the waiting woman for those who are in a hurry for fruitfulness.  Mangos fall when they are ripe and ready to eat, and the woman knew this well.  Impatiently throwing rocks could also damage the tree and unripe fruit, not to mention the possibility of inflicting injuries on others. The development of ripe fruit, like the growth and fruitfulness of a tree itself, is not to be rushed.  In a society saturated with self and entitlement concerning immediate results, this is a lesson difficult to learn.  The value of such a lesson may even be questioned because it seems unnecessary.  Patiently waiting hours for a mango to fall would just about kill some people!  Whilst there is something to be said for industry and labour, the lesson of the mango-woman is usefully applied to our walk with Jesus Christ.

The woman may seem lazy to you, but actually she was intentional in rising early and staking her claim under a tree.  Perhaps the day before she had passed by the tree and recognised it would not be long before sweet mangoes began to drop.  She could work with her hands weaving and feeding her youngster under the tree as easily as at home.  So she patiently waited in the right spot.  Why?  Because there was delicious fruit in the tree she desired and valued.  She was willing to wait to obtain her desire.  Let me ask you, dear believer:  do you value the work of the Holy Spirit in your life?  Do you place yourself in a position to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit to others?  Are you willing to share with others what you have waited on the LORD for?  Are you willing to slowly work your way through the scriptures, seeking God's direction for your life?  When you are confused or without understanding are you willing to stop, sit down, and drop everything else to seek God's wisdom and guidance?  Are you willing to pray and continue to pray according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, even if you do not see immediate results from your efforts?  Or do your prayers resemble the efforts of a little child who throws a wayward rock or two at the mangoes dangling far overhead, and then run off distracted by the lure of beckoning waves?

The hard texture and sour flavour in unripe fruit slowly changes over time.  The rays of sunlight, the moisture from water, and the nutrients from the earth combine to cause fruit to grow and ripen in season.  Ripe fruit is ready for eating.  After fruit is matured it has an appealing fragrance, sweetness and softness of flesh. Sometimes we can be impatient with Christians who do not seem to be maturing.  We can be frustrated over our own lack of progress.  Bitterness can grow in our hearts over a church that seems not to be fruitful as it could or should be.  The one thing we should not do is throw stones!  Instead, let us take heed to ourselves, that we are resting in the shadow of the Almighty.  Let us be patient and nurture one another, recalling how Jesus has been faithful and longsuffering for our sakes.  Jesus said in John 15:1-5, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."  Without Jesus, no one can be fruitful.  Abiding in Christ is not passive, but intentionally done through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus alone makes your life fruitful, and He is the only one capable of causing fruitfulness in others.

Since Jesus has provided us the Bible which is compared to good seed, it is clear God has designed His Word to grow.  This process does not happen overnight.  Are you willing to be faithful and patient for God to bring growth and ripeness in your own life and others?  Jesus said in John 15:16-17, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, that you love one another."  Love is the primary fruit of the Spirit we ought to seek to cultivate.  If we will abide in Christ, all the fruit of the Spirit will be produced.  Take time to ask God to produce His fruit in your life, and cause it to ripen and fall so others can be nourished and sustained.  He will do it if we will expectantly wait on Him!