Whilst driving I heard a news reader on the radio saying something about the growth of the pistachio nut industry in the Northern Cape. Wait ... What? There are trees growing successfully in that arid area that produce those delicious, but very expensive nuts?

Well, technically they are seeds, but you know what delicacies I mean. My thoughts, or rather my tastebuds, immediately go to luscious green Italian gelato and the decadent chocolate from Dubai with a similarly green filling. Yum!

The value of pistachios, besides being delicious

Pistachio production in South Africa is centred near Prieska, a region identified for its ideal climate of hot, dry summers and cold winters, similar to Middle Eastern deserts.

Key producers like Karoo Pistachios and Wercon Boerdery cultivate their nuts along the Orange River, focusing on high-quality, locally grown products. The industry is expanding, aimed at boosting local production to reduce reliance on imports, with small exports to neighbouring countries.

But the potential is there to become a R2- to R3-billion global export sector! Please put this “local is lekker” item on your prayer list as the industry provides significant employment in the region. It is viewed as a high-value, sustainable alternative to traditional crops.

If you enjoy eating them, you needn’t feel guilty about your pleasure. Pistachios are a member of the cashew family. They are a great source of healthy fats, fiber, protein, antioxidants, and various nutrients, including vitamin B6 and thiamine.

Their health benefits (if you eat them au naturel without cream and sugar) may include weight loss, lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and improved gut, eye, and blood vessel health. Shelling them by hand is also one of those monotonous activities that, if you do it in a focused manner, calms the brain.

The beauty and challenge in thinking of spiritual traits as fruit

When the Holy Spirit works in believers, the result is called the “fruit of the Spirit”, according to Galatians 5. Nine traits – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – represent a single, unified, and natural outcome.

Just as a tree bears fruit naturally, these qualities grow slowly over time through connection with God, rather than through forced effort. Just as fruit reveals the health of a tree, these traits reveal a person's inner spiritual life and transformation into the likeness of Jesus.

Fruit grows gradually and naturally, signifying that these character traits are produced by the Holy Spirit within a person, rather than through sheer willpower. Paul contrasts this fruit with the “works of the flesh”, highlighting that while sinful actions are produced by selfish effort, godly character is an organic, cultivated result of divine grace.

The Holy Spirit, however, works uniquely within each individual's personality and circumstances. While the fruit is singular, representing a cohesive character change, it manifests in distinct, interdependent ways, which may blossom at different rates in different people.

Your fruit will be rooted in your temperament. Your fruit will developed through your life's challenges, your typical strengths and your unique weaknesses.

A Yellow person may exhibit self-control by talking less and a Blue person may demonstrate love by chatting more in order to find out what someone needs. A Green person may demonstrate patience through waiting while someone blows off steam. And a Red person may show gentleness by asking someone else’s opinion and taking it into account.

Diverse gifts, same Spirit - we dare not compare

While everyone is called to bear the same fruit, the Spirit also gives different functional abilities (gifts) to different people, which can result in different expressions of the same fruit. If you do not understand and accept this, you can fall into a selfish desire to gauge your righteousness against other people.

Comparing spiritual growth can lead to jealousy, rivalry, and division within a family, group or community. Focus on your own progress instead. Sanctification is a lifelong process, and comparing a person’s current stage of growth to another’s ignores their unique journey with God. 

Remind yourself of all the wonders of unique, natural fruit types. The top 5 sweetest fruit in the world are considered, by some, to be mangoes, dates, figs, lychees and jackfruit. But these aren’t the only types of fruit people eat.

All over the world, other fruit types that are bitter, sour or less sweet are consumed with joy and appreciation for their health benefits. For instance, the world’s worst tasting fruit (apparently) is the bitter melon.

It tastes so extremely bitter that it is called “struggle” in Vietnam. But this fruit could potentially save your life! It is as medicinal as it is horrible. It is used to manage blood sugar levels in countries such as Japan and China and eaten with gusto there.

If you are an introverted, reserved and serious person, you might, for example, feel your quiet joy is more like a bitter melon compared to the sweetness of the exuberant joy of extroverted and more light-hearted people. But in God’s plan, both are necessary to impact our broken world.

You might feel that you haven’t come out of your shell enough, that the difference you make is invisible, because your circumstances are arid. Then remember the pistachios in the desert and rejoice about who you are and what you already contribute.

Instead of comparing, the focus should be on remaining “plugged into the Vine” (Jesus), allowing the Spirit to cultivate personal growth. The ultimate goal is that, over time, all believers’ lives reflect the character of Christ, not a uniform checklist of accomplishments.

Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.

Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.

-Brian O’Driscoll