"I am the true vine, and my
Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,
while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more
fruitful." (John 15:1-2 NIV)
My wife and I celebrated our last anniversary in a
delightful little bed and breakfast set amongst the vineyards near Erie,
Pennsylvania. At that time of year, the vines were covered in vibrant leaves,
along with the tiny nubbins of what would later in the season be a bountiful
harvest of luscious grapes, and that first evening as we walked amongst the
vines, we were blessed by a the spectacular view of a radiant sunset over Lake
Erie.
How different it would have been if the vines had been
bare. Vines, after all, have only one purpose: to develop
unforgettably-exquisite fruit.
Such fruit doesn't grow without effort, however.
Vineyards have to be cared for in order for them to produce quality fruit. And
one of the most undesirable tasks of caretaking is pruning, which generally
happens in the coolest months of the winter season. That is no unpleasant task,
as it's certainly quite cold at that time of the year in the Northern regions of
North America!
Trimming involves cutting off the long, dry vines in
order to stimulate new growth for the spring. It is also done to avoid breakage
due to overbearing weight of the fruit as it ripens, and during pruning,
branches that produce no fruit at all are cut off and thrown into a bonfire.
It is clear that vines would never be able to produce
quality grapes by themselves. They need to depend on their caretaker, their
gardener. In addition, their branches would never be able to produce fruit if
they were not attached or grafted into the vine. In other words, the abundant
fruit of a vine depends not only on the caretaker, but also on the vine!
If we wonder why we are not producing any quality
fruit ("But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23 NIV)) Would it
be possible that this is due to our attempts to be in control of our lives?
"Oh Lord help us to rely solely on you. Our own
efforts are pitiful at best. Only in you can we experience real growth."
It sure is a delight to savor exquisite grape juice
with a view of a gorgeous sunset amongst the vines.
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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