Fruit bowls are complicated things.  My fruit bowl at home is a giant art piece made of many pieces of round metal and  o-rings welded together.  It’s huge, a full foot and a half in diameter at its widest point, which is good as it’s often overflowing with fruit, vegetables, legumes and squash.

When it is full it is vibrant and lush, a welcoming centerpiece on our dining table. Within this cornucopia may be firm produce like broccoli, radishes, and beets.  Denser fruits and vegetables add support to the bottom of the bowl.  There may also be a variety of soft fruits,  like tomatoes, plums and peaches.  These fruits are sweet and bright, a treat for the eye and palate. There are smart veggies that can bend a little here and there to fit in, like beans, peas and small peppers.  Then there are large ones that are hefty and take a lot of space, like butternut squash, melons and onions.  These you must be careful with, because if not placed correctly they will crush something below.  There are others that appear strong and tough, but are really soft on the inside, like avocados and oranges.

If I compare my dining room table to life, then my fruit bowl could be likened to many social situations—a classroom, restaurant, or busy kitchen.  Working with others within the constraints  of social and creative pressures, timelines, and other tricky situations can be challenging. Sometimes we bump each other, sometimes one of us gets moved, and sometimes we get crushed in the melee. But we keep coming back to these situations because when we work together and it’s good, we can create such beauty, and become a part of a really magnificent arrangement! We see that a lot here at Living Light. As our students come together, they learn the lessons of fruit dynamics and life.