The Great Squeeze - A Modern Day Parable

A parable of fruit bearing.

            Two men were eager to produce a batch of wine to send to the stores. The first wine maker bought the latest and greatest wine press. He chaffed, waiting for the grapes to ferment. Finally they were ready. He dumped all the grapes into the wine press, overlooking the stems and some spoiled fruit, figuring it wouldn’t make a difference in the taste. He cranked the press as hard as he could, to make sure not one drop of juice remained in the fruit. When the beverage was bottled, he took a glass and sipped on his accomplishment. The man grimaced, surprised at the bitter taste.

            The second man pulled out an old wine press that had been passed down through his family for generations. As the grapes fermented he picked through them with care, removing stems, dirt, and rotten fruit. Only the best remained. He poured the succulent berries into the basket press, and manually applied pressure to the fruit, being careful not to crush the seeds. Once the process was completed, he poured a glass of the wine and took a sip. He smiled at the delightful flavor.

"Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:44-45

What words and actions have been overflowing from your heart (and mouth), especially when you are stressed or under pressure?