Counting the Apples in a Seed

"You can count the seeds in an apple, but you cannot count the apples in a seed." This quote came up on my Facebook newsfeed a few weeks ago, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since. I'm sure there are a lot of applications, but the one that sticks with me the most is the idea of influence.

You may think you're just one person—a single apple—with a short time on this earth, so what good could you possibly do in the world? However, the "seeds" you plant in others by your kindness and good deeds have a profound and lasting effect on others, a ripple effect that continues until the world is indeed changed in some way because of you.

This thought is definitely uplifting, but I also found something else there that was nagging at me. It was a call to action, specifically about how I use my time. I started thinking about the things I fill my day with, asking the question, "By doing this thing, am I just eating my own apple, or am I planting its seeds?" Am I just scrolling mindlessly through Facebook, or am I seeking to add or promote uplifting content through it? Am I watching hours of TV, which only benefits me, or am I doing something that will somehow benefit others?

Now, don't get me wrong—I'm all about self-care. If we just "go go go" helping everyone else without also taking time for ourselves, we'll get burnt out. But I've noticed that, at least for me, self-care can very quickly deteriorate into self-indulgence if I'm not careful. And I've also noticed how truly happy I am when I'm engaged in worthwhile (influential) activities, much more so than when I'm binging on Netflix or oversleeping. Maybe this is what Jesus Christ meant in Matthew 16:25—"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." The greatest joy and fulfillment we find is in "losing" our time in making the world a better place, not by "saving" all that time for ourselves.

Every one of us can metaphorically plant our apple seeds by filling our time with service to others, creative pursuits, and self-improvement. This will look different for every person because we all have different talents and opportunities. But know this—you do have something to offer the world, and the seeds you plant matter. Ultimately, the more seeds we plant, the more apples we can enjoy: not just our own, but also the fruits of our labors in the lives of countless others.