Thomas Merton wrote that "a certain depth of disciplined experience is a necessary ground for fruitful action." (Contemplation in a World of Action) Activity for activity's sake breeds soul-shallowness. Out of soul-shallowness comes fruitless action. Irrelevancy is the fruit of not listening.
The cultivation of the inner life is a slow-cooker, not a microwave. It is true that, on occasion, God can nuke the human heart such that it fast-forwards in maturity (= fruitfulness). But in general fruit grows slowly, and must be cultivated and attended to. McHearts are cheap; hearts slow-morphed into Christlikeness are thick, expansive, and costly.
Needed: much still-time with God spent listening and meditating on what one hears from God. It is out of this inner place that relevant, fruitful action comes.
