Fruit in Every Season: Lessons from a Wonder Tree in Winter
Here in New Zealand, we’re in the heart of winter. The skies are grey, the air is sharp, and most of the trees have shed their leaves, standing bare and bleak against the cold. In a recent blog post, I reflected on how these natural winter seasons often mirror the spiritual winters we walk through—times that feel quiet, barren, or even lifeless.
But today, something unexpected caught my eye.
While out walking, I noticed a tree with a few vivid red flowers clinging to its branches—such a stark contrast to the empty trees surrounding it. Later, on my way home, I saw another tree absolutely covered in rich, red berries. It stopped me in my tracks.
There was something captivating about seeing such vibrant color in the midst of a winter landscape.
Intrigued, I looked it up and discovered it’s called a Wonder Tree. True to its name, it blooms with fragrant yellow-green flowers in early summer, but what’s remarkable is that it produces bright red berries that persist all the way through winter. I read that while the berries are edible, they don’t taste particularly good—so I took their word for it!
Still, the sight lingered in my mind. Amid a season marked by dormancy and stillness, this tree was bearing visible fruit.
It reminded me of Psalm 1:
“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.” (Psalm 1:1–3 NLT)
Even in winter—spiritually or naturally—there can still be fruit.
The psalmist points to the key: delight in the Lord’s Word and meditate on it continually. Jesus echoed this truth in John 15, describing the source of lasting fruit as abiding in Him—remaining connected, rooted, and intimate.
Fruitfulness isn’t seasonal when intimacy is constant.
As I reflected on the brilliant red berries of the Wonder Tree, I couldn’t help but think of the blood of Jesus. It’s because of His sacrifice that any fruit comes from our lives at all. And as we focus on the wonder of who He is and what He’s done, that wonder begins to shape us. It sustains us. And yes—it even brings fruit in winter.
So if you're in a winter season right now, take heart: you can still bear fruit. Stay close to Jesus. Abide in Him. Behold His beauty. There’s a quiet, holy wonder waiting to bloom—right in the middle of the cold.