SAY NO TO LOW-HANGING FRUIT, KIDS. BY MICHAEL PARKER

“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.” Genesis 3:6
This weekend I went apple picking, an activity I haven’t participated in since being a child. It was so fun walking through the orchard, choosing the apples that looked the most crisp and juicy to pluck and throw into our bag. Some of the most scrumptious looking apples were higher up on the tree, and being someone who seeks thrills, I limbered my way up the tree to grab two apples that looked absolutely perfect at the top.
I realized afterwards that this directly relates to creativity, as well as the verse from Genesis, as it is often so easy to grab onto low-hanging fruit that may look pleasing, but then you realize isn’t as good as it appears (bruised, filled with worms, damaged). First right answers are the exact same way, they seem so appealing and satisfactory, but never bring you actual success. Few are willing to put the work into bypassing the easy answers and persist, putting in greater effort and possibility for risk in pursuit of the secondary answers (higher apples).

In reflection, I challenge you to seek out the better apples, turn up your sleeves and climb. Although you may fall down a time or two, the reward at the end is that much sweeter.