“Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” – Jesus, Matthew 7:20

Every day, in addition to short “round the block” walks, Max and I head out for both a morning and an evening hike. Mornings are all about breathing in newness and life; our evening walks bookend the day with more fresh air and exercise.

While mornings tend to be quiet and meditative, evenings typically involve tuning in to a podcast. This week, catching up on some episodes of “Hidden Brain,” I listened to social scientist Sandra Matz (Columbia University Business School) talk about research into the digital footprints we leave, and how such objective measures paint uncannily accurate pictures of who we are.

It is not so much banner headlines that give the scoop as it is evidence left behind via websites visited, credit card usage, GPS location data, GOOGLE searches, “likes” and other unintentional but telling evidence.

These are the traces we leave online. Or, as Matz put it, the difference between what she describes as “Identity Claims” and “Behavioral Residue.”

Identity claims versus behavioral residue

Identity claims are things like my profile photo on a cruise-ship, or that video of zip-lining in Costa Rica, or standing in front of iconic landmarks, or a foodie picture of “Chef Derek” preparing something delicious in the kitchen.

“Behavioral Residue” is the stuff I am not advertising but – instead – actually doing, investing in (my time, my money, my support, my attention) that tells the narrative history of my actions, day in and day out.

I don’t know if Sandra Matz realizes this but she is using the same criterion as Jesus. “You can identify people by their fruit,” the master said, “that is, by the way they act … Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions” (Matthew 7:16, 20).

The Apostle Paul said something similar in his letter to the Galatians: “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives,” he said: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

Paul is very clear that it is not what we say so much as how we behave that reveals the truth about who we are… and who we really follow.

Question?

So here is my question this fine Sunday morning. We can talk the talk all we like when it comes to our identity claims, yet what the world hears, what our neighbors hear (what God hears) is pretty much, “Blah blah blah blah blah…” What comes through loud and clear, though, is our behavioral residue.

Residue such as our meanness, negativity, lack of grace, vitriol, judgement, bullying, selfishness, greed….

Or, alternatively, fruit of the Spirit – a behavioral residue comprised of grace, positivity, encouragement, kindness, selflessness, mercy, love, generosity…?

Who we really are tends to come through loud and clear. It’s actually the biggest selfie we can post – DEREK