AdventWord::Prune

Prune
We prune to let go of growth, letting die what is alive but not growing in the best direction. We prune to let go of death, letting go what is dead but still taking up space. Pruning is a form of dying in order for the tree to more fully live and bear more fruit.

-Br. Luke Ditewig

I'm a big believer in pruning. God has taught me so very much about my life while at the tasks of the garden. I see the hard cut back of January as the first step toward the blooms of spring. 

The first time I cut roses back I did it by the book. I did the pruning. Gingerly. And then my beautiful rose-tender-of-a-neighbor, Bob, came over and told me to go harder. Angling my pruning sheers properly and removing all but about 14" of the plant, I cut, believing in his urging, kinda. A few months later, the roses were gorgeous and profuse.

Pruning then, applies well in my life. Cut back, even what's alive but not growing in the best direction. All of it becomes fodder for the sheers. Unnecessary complexities, clusters of "do," the things I take on, the stuff I collect, that thing that is dead and taking up space. Not as simple and pure as the garden work, certainly. 

Christ speaks these words in John 15:  “1 I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you." 

Reflecting and consuming these concepts, I have to place it all on the Gardener's altar. Allow His wisdom and love to show me where to make the cut and which angle to use so that new growth is not halted, but prepared in the right season. The waiting is not without anxiousness, but filled with joyful expectation.

Writing my way.

Today I asked Amanda how I'd know she's a writer. I wanted to hear about when and how she writes. She went right to journalling and blogging and how she is rather on and off with it. Cycles. And I thought two things: right! and then, wait a minute. I write just about everyday. Journaling, Artist's Way and I drifted (everyone is now talking in the rooms - back and forth - about her writing and the whatever else) and I think, I've never excelled at anything I did cyclically. They were just things I did.

At some point Chris said, "Vicki should have a blog."

I thought, (really), "Mercy. I have a blog." I said. Oh, yes. I do.

Then I went back into the drift and wondered, what am I doing? What's so important? Where is my writing. My art. My stuff. And it occurred to me, things don't become cyclical (other than seasons and things like that) we lean into them in cycles. I learned to be a cook by cooking everyday. Writer by writing everyday. Violinist by playing everyday (until I stopped).

What are the everyday things?
What are the joys and actions we love and have to do?

Rest.
Consider.

A week before my birthday I picked up a wonderful small book by Claire Diaz-Ortiz: DESIGN YOUR DAY. On my birthday I started reading it. I had to stop because she asks that the reader (that would be me) stop and take the required time to find ONE WORD to hold in focus for the year ahead. For me that is not the literal 2016, which, as you likely know, is 5/6 over. But for the seasonal year ahead. The one that follows the season of my birthday. So I'm doing that.
And somehow,
the considering
of what
makes up the
ABCs of me
is all
a part of my
pondering my way
into focus.

I have a blog.
I have a voice.
I love to write.

Stillness.
Resting.
Considering.

Caterpillars

I don't have a picture because I had no idea I'd see this today. (I promise an update picture tomorrow.) My daughter pulled me out of my office this afternoon to see twenty-six, 26, yes XXVI caterpillars hoisting themselves for the big job of transformation. It's quite a sight. And something to ponder. They did the long crawl to end up under the eves where they lay flat and then let go to assume the fuzzy black J pose they need before they start spinning.

Of course I think of spring.
And the butterflies I'll soon be seeing (in 7 to 10 days according to the caterpillar enthusiast in my midst). But I'm also thinking about how my church is in a season of focus on Transformation. The art they use each week on bulletins and posters is of the caterpillar to butterfly progression.

And it makes me wonder.
Should I be paying attention? It would seem that there's a little message here. Just for me.

Can I see it? (What exactly is it?)
Can I hang upside down for a while?
Weave the protection around me I need for a season?
Go through the stages of metamorphosis?
Am I listening for the opportunity that God may presenting for the free flight of the butterfly?

Or perhaps, is this just the chance to see His marvelous hand in the nature hanging over me and just outside my window?