Upland, CA — When I moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA, I became a member of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where the late Dr. E.V. Hill was the pastor. Those years were foundational for me, growing in my faith, building community, and holding onto the powerful messages Pastor Hill would preach. Though he has been gone for many years, those of us who knew him still reflect on what we call “Pastor’s isms”, short, memorable truths that continue to help guide us and give food for thought.
Just recently, I was catching up with a dear friend, she was my very first prayer partner from those early days in Los Angeles. She reminded me of one of Pastor Hill’s classic and most memorable sermons: “Just Leaves.” She explained how he warned about people who may be full of activity but bear no fruit. They may look the part, even appear successful, but their lives lacked real substance. “They are just leaves,” he said. That line stuck with me. At first, I chuckled. Then I started reflecting. Am I bearing fruit? Or am I just a leaf? The Bible reminds us in Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” This is not about judging others, it is about gently asking: Is there any evidence of growth? Any proof of purpose? My husband often says, “I am not a judge, I am a fruit inspector.” That perspective has stayed with me. Because sometimes, our words, efforts, and even good intentions do not produce fruit. And when that happens, it is not failure, it is feedback. A moment to pause, realign, and begin bearing what truly feeds others and fulfills our purpose.
After that conversation, I dug a little deeper into the idea of bearing leaves but not fruit. What I found was powerful. Leaves might symbolize busyness, a life that looks full, but does not actually feed anyone. They may catch the eye, but they do not nourish. Fruit, on the other hand, represents purpose, impact, and legacy. Even when it falls from the tree, fruit continues to serve, nourishing the soil, feeding the animals, and creating new life. In both the spiritual and practical sense, this is a wake-up call. We can go through life checking boxes, chasing titles, or staying “booked and busy,” but if our lives are not producing fruit, we may need to realign.
Bearing fruit means our inner purpose is producing outer impact. It means we are helping others, lifting someone up, leaving something better than we found it. It is how we honor our calling and build a legacy that outlives us. After all, I am writing this today because of a message Pastor Hill preached decades ago is still bearing fruit in my life. Maybe this message finds you at a moment where you have been questioning your direction. Maybe you have been following someone else’s path instead of your own. There is no shame in that, just do not stay there. Recognize it. Recommit. And if you need to, reach out to someone who can hold you accountable and encourage you to keep growing. Because in the end, it is not about how good the leaves look, it is about whether your life is bearing fruit. At the end of the day, leaves may look good, but fruit is what feeds, nourishes, and leaves a legacy. The real measure of a life well-lived is not how busy we were, it is what we left behind that helped someone else grow. We do not need to judge others, but we should all be willing to inspect the fruit in our own lives. Let your love, your service, your impact be the evidence. Leaves will fade with the season, but fruit leaves a seed. Live in a way that your fruit speaks long after you are gone.
Wendy is the Purpose Partner, Life Strategist, Coach, Consultant, Author, and Speaker.
Healing Without Hate: It’s a choice. It’s a lifestyle. Pass it on. Visit www.WendyGladney.com and www.forgivingforliving.org to learn more.
