September 25, 2023
“I am the Real Vine, and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more.” ~ John 15:2 The Message
I’ve messed up my share of trees and bushes by assuming I knew how and when to prune. Two dead butterfly bushes, a plum tree that I over-stressed, a rose bush that I killed and leggy lavender plants that I neglected to prune are proof. I realize I need help.
So, Saturday, stuck indoors due to the rain, I took some time to do a google search about pruning. Who knew that there are opportune times, and best ways to prune different types of plants? Apparently not me! I thought that a good rule of thumb for pruning was to cut back 1/3 of the growth. Lavender and rosemary need to be pruned in the fall, about 4 weeks before the first frost. Lavender can be cut back to an inch above the new growth on each stem. Fruit trees need to be pruned in the spring after the flowers have given way to fruit.
My google search led to a few YouTube tutorials, and when I should have been writing my sermon, I felt a compelled to dive down some of those rabbit holes. That’s when it happened. I was watching a video of a man pruning apple trees in his yard. He was pruning liberally, cutting back branches even if they held fruit. It seems so very counter-productive to cut off perfectly good fruit. It seemed downright wasteful, like throwing away perfectly good food. It was then that Jesus’ words from John 15:2 came back to me. Every branch that is grape-bearing will be pruned back even more.
Ouch! What might Jesus be saying to me? Good fruit pruned back to make for the best conditions for the fruit that remains? I’m on a seven-week run of taking Fridays off as a Sabbath. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been good. What I’ve discovered is that I still manage to get everything done that needs done. I’ve a sense of calm.
I had a go at the lavender Sunday afternoon. I will wait until spring to go after the fruit trees, and prune back even if it means losing some potentially good fruit. ~ Anne
Wayfinding 