“The woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and the tree was desirable for gaining wisdom” (Genesis 3:6).

“Blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1:42).

Bearing Fruit: Cultivating the Garden of Our Hearts

Gardens are an important setting in Scripture. Adam and Eve are created in the Garden of Eden, born out of God’s great love for us (Genesis 2). Jesus prays and suffers in the Garden of Gethsemane before he is arrested and crucified (Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46)—again, out of love for us.

This Lent, the Catholic Women in Business team is meditating on our interior garden, where we can invite God to help us bear fruit. As St. Augustine wrote, “The turn of phrase by which the man is said to work the land, which is already land, into also being landscaped and fertile, is the same as the one by which God is said to work the man, who was already a man, into also being godfearing and wise.”

Even what we think is a good thing can lead us away from where God is calling us.

It seems like a strange paradox: Something good leading us away from the Lord? Yet, how often do we say “yes” to something that we think will be good and fulfilling, only to realize afterward that it has left us more depleted and restless? Distractions can be disguised as good things. They appeal to what we think we want, not what we really need.

The Desirable Tree

Genesis does not mention the size, shape, branches, or colors of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). It’s just one seemingly random tree that Eve and Adam cannot eat from. But when Eve talks with the serpent, the tree is described as “good for food and pleasing to the eyes” (3:6). It is no longer a tree to be cautious of but a tree that is “desirable for gaining wisdom.”

How often is there something that we think we want and need—furthering our education, adding more responsibilities at work, a new or different job, the husband and family we are still waiting on—that we know we are not called to at this moment? Slowly, these desires can become brighter and more appealing, and we say, “This is what I need to be fulfilled.”

This is not to say that these good things are inherently bad or evil distractions. But, they can disguise themselves to be so good that we can try to become more self-reliant and rather than depending on the Lord. These good things may not be what our soul needs. They may even be pulling us from what the Lord is calling us to now, in this season of life.

God Uses the Unimpressive to Create the Beautiful

The infant John and Holy Spirit tell Elizabeth of Mary’s arrival. Elizabeth knows in that moment that her Messiah has arrived (Luke 1:40)—but he did not arrive at Elizabeth’s doorstep brightly and loudly; he arrived gently and quietly. Elizabeth joyfully declares, “Blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1:42). That fruit is Jesus, and he chose a simple, but faithful, woman to be his vessel. What most of us would consider an unimpressive way to come into the world was, instead, a beautiful act of salvation. An ordinary girl, so easy to ignore, who gave birth to a man who lived, for most of his life, an ordinary life … who gives us exactly what our heart needs.

Distractions come in all shapes and forms. Some distractions show us what they truly are, while others disguise themselves. The ones that disguise themselves can look good and pleasing and can convince us that we need this “one thing” to feel better. Even the small actions of watching TV or scrolling on our phone can lead our hearts away from the Father who loves us, while we may pass by things that would draw us nearer to God’s heart.

Our hearts are searching for fruit—good fruit, the fruit that will give us life and draw us closer to God’s heart. He wants us to have the good fruit that gives us life, not the fruit that depletes us and leads us astray.

Let us choose the fruit that our hearts need. Let us choose Jesus.

Alexandra (Alex) Harrel resides in Irving, Texas. She is a new student affairs professional within the world of higher education. In her spare time, she loves reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time outdoors. Her favorite prayer is Hail, Holy Queen. You can follow her on Instagram at @2012alexandra.