Changing the World one Kumquat at a Time

There is a fruit that many people around here don't know about. It's called the Kumquat. The Kumquat is unusual because it's a citrus-type fruit that can be eaten whole; the peel is sweet and the inside is bitter (and it has great health benefits for its size). When I first tried the Kumquat, which I had found at a store by accident, I absolutely loved it. Over the years, I wanted to share it with other people because I hoped to introduce them to its wonder and delight. It made me happy to see others' reactions to trying it: at first squinting their eyes because of the bitter sourness inside and then widening their eyes in surprise as they realized that the fruit was pleasant overall.

I have been trying ever since that first day of experiencing the Kumquat, myself, to change the world one Kumquat at a time.

My experience of trying the Kumquat and sharing it with my friends, family, and coworkers is similar to my experience of trying the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At times, living His gospel is difficult. If I said that it's been a joyful, easy ride ever since I chose to follow Christ I'd be lying. In complete honesty, just like the Kumquat, there is a bitterness in following Him in this mortal life: walking alone most days, unpopularity, and difficult trials, to name a few of the challenges. However, despite that bitterness, there is a delightful and pleasant sweetness that accompanies the bitterness: peace, deeper love, joy, and small day-to-day miracles.

If this fruit that I enjoy so much did not have the bitter, it would be like any other fruit. It would be good, but it wouldn't be great. There will always be those moments of bitterness when one chooses to follow Christ, but without the bitter, living the Gospel of Jesus Christ and following Him would only be good, not great. Since the bitter makes the wonder of life all the more sweeter, I will continue to work on changing the world one Kumquat at a time.