Be Fruitful…

WED., JUNE 7, 1989, 6:16 AM
HAMA’S CABANA, HONOLULU

This is a Biblical theme I have developed with you before this morning, but it is an important one for you, so I shall reinforce it. The whole admonition, of course is “be fruitful and multiply,” so I shall consider those implications also.

A fruit is the edible, delicious product of a tree, vine, or other plant. The fruit contains the seed or seeds, from which a new plant can grow. So, the tree produces fruit, good, healthy food for humans and for animals (also for insects and microorganisms… and hence the whole pesticide industry, since humans want fruit only for themselves). From the soil, the sun, and from water the tree produces fruit, which is nutritious and a joy to eat.

Thus, when I call upon you to be fruitful, I am urging you to be of tangible value to others… and to be a joy in that service. Be like unto a papaya, a mango, a cantelope, a crisp apple. But what about a lemon, which also is a fruit? The lemon is not delicious by itself, but when combined with other foods it enlivens the taste. When the juice of a lemon is squeezed on a papaya, the sweetness and sourness combine in a delightful way. So sometimes you need to be like a lemon… effective only when combined with another or others.

Being fruitful is, in a sense, to be devoured, but then to bring forth more fruit. “I am the vine and you are the branches.” Those branches produce fruit, which is consumed, one way or another. In its season the branches produce more. I would have you be fruitful by producing more… by serving and then serving again. There are seasons for service. You are not teaching now, but in a few weeks you shall be fully into that mode of service yet again. Now you are writing and relating to people. These are different fruits, that also have their season.

You know that the excess and imperfect fruit from your apple and pear trees are consumed by the animals. In like fashion, you may be fruitful in pulling weeds or helping Lenore in some onerous task in connection with her houses. You may perform in some minor or imperfect way, and it still may be fruitful.

You and Lenore have multiplied yourselves, and now your children are multiplying themselves beyond “replacement.” You know that I have repeatedly told you that further multiplication of humans is not desirable. When a tree produces too much fruit, much lays upon the ground and rots. The human analog is that some of those who are born shall have little love offered them and few opportunities. They commence as potentially perfect, delicious fruit, but end up as rotten… to be of little use and value. The analogy is harsh, but unfortunately it has some truth.

This means that you must pay special attention to these fruits of yours – your sons and their families. Give attention to them. Show them you care. Try to make sure that your multiplication was fruitful in the best sense… that your offspring and theirs contribute positively to this world.

In the work setting your graduate program has multiplied beyond the capacities of your faculty. You must offer a fruitful hand to some of these young people, who shall make more of a difference in their later professional life if you give them attention now.

Is there no limit to being fruitful? As I have noted, most trees, vines, and plants have seasons of being fruitful and then time to regenerate. This also applies. Give as much as you can and then be restored. The attention to your parents is deserved. They did much for you, and attention to them should now be given, with joy. But also send forth some cards to your grandchildren. They also need fruitful attention.