Kindly Pruning

Scripture

“‘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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  (John 15:1-5 NIV) 

Kindly Pruning 

A couple of weeks ago we had a sudden outbreak of sunshine and heat after Spring’s playing hide and seek with us. One afternoon I raked the lawns and pruned some bushes. Through trial and error and actual directions from a nursery I figured out that these bushes would bloom beautifully if I pruned the branches at the first bud where the branch showed life. 

They are only at thigh height, so my back ached as I bent to gently prune, collecting the dead stuff for disposal – it had served its purpose last season but needed to make room for the next generation. My pruning wasn’t designed to do anything but allow the plant to grow, flourish and flower as the seasons progress. 

My aching back didn’t keep me from watching my hands hold the fragile branches, squeeze the clippers, and think about the Heavenly Gardener who Jesus said does his own pruning of our faith communities and our lives as well. And it’s done for good and beauty, not anger and punishment. 

That week I was feeling anxious about a few things and as I prayed one morning realized the anxieties needed pruning – they were just dead things keeping me from serving fruitfully – and I think the Spirit did their job. 

A Prayer for Today

Eternal Gardener, thank you for letting us be part of your garden, growing, blooming, flowering and then needing pruning to keep growing. Forgive me for that which I am responsible, gently clip it away and clean me up to grow better and with more beauty.  …. For Jesus’ sake