A Lesson From Two Vines
A few summers ago my wife planted a small plant near the back corner of our garage. It is situated near the walkway in to our backyard – growing proudly just you past the garage. It clings to a trellis that we placed up against the garage wall to give it support. It is supposed to be a trumpet vine… but no trumpets yet.
It is now about as high as our garage and still climbing. Without the suction cups, that the typical ivy vine has, it seeks to weave itself into the crevices of the siding and the area that where the roof and the wall meet. At the end of each branch are small feelers that reach to touch something. I don’t think it has eyes but it would seem that it is looking for something.
For the past weeks the arms have been reaching out to the space around it –looking for more to hang on to. When I was cutting the grass the one arm of the plant reached out to touch me. Its arm was about six feet long as it now was away from the original plant and the support. As I brushed it – it waved at me and tickled my ear.
On your left, as you enter the backyard, there is a fence. Just over the fence is an arch way that my neighbour erected and then planted a grape vine. It is crawling skyward and hanging onto the arch way. It has now reached the top and is reaching out into the space around it for something more to hang onto.
My neighbour was frustrated with the plant last summer as it didn’t produce any grapes. So he cut it down. But – here it is again – tall and stretching for all it’s worth to hang on.
As our plant tickled my ear I looked up and saw where the touch came from. As I did I noticed it I happened to see my neighbours grape vine just about touching our trumpet vine. Both were reaching to the same area.
In that moment I thought, “What if….” And within a short time I strung a few pieces of twine from the trellis to their archway and the bond was possible. These past few days the two are continuing to reach out to each other – now touching. I have not doubt we will have a unique arbour to our yard in a few weeks time.
The simple lesson I find as I have continued to watch these plants is, together they are making a beautiful thing. Neither has produced the grapes or trumpets that we thought they would. But together they are making something. Interesting… hmmm.
I entered the house last evening after looking at the vines. More news flooded our home from London, England. The story was being played again about the Police in Britain arresting the 24 men that had allegedly plotted to destroy others with the liquid bombs aboard the airplanes. The potential disaster was hatched by the Islamic extremists with the violent hatred toward others – specially the USA and Britain. Another potential 9-11 or in this case 10-8 had played itself out.
Two vines planted by each other with intent to do their thing. Most of us ask why they can’t get along with each other? The answer is simple – hatred.
Following this TV report was another from Israel and southern Lebanon. So many rockets and bombs fired at each other. It is a nightly report now – followed by a Sports report either of Golf, or Tennis, or Baseball or soon Football. The events of Israel and the Hezbollah seem to be another score.
Why can’t they learn from the vines? Why can’t they get along? The answer again is – hatred. Age old and everlasting hatred existing side by side that is powerful and destructive in every way.
As I pondered the vines growing in front of me I have thought about the world events. What would happen if the different groups would reach out to each other and find support for what they really desire – looking after their families, building their communities and just living side by side? What would happen if the hatred was dropped and someone forgave another? I can’t change a world – only live in my own – I know that. But I can dream.
Locally Christians are another story. Christians standing(growing) side by side can do so much. If they reach out to each other what a difference they might make for others around them. They might well beautify a garden or the yard they are planted in. Sadly that is not always true. I have witnessed hatred here too.
But as I have been pondering this one… “What if….”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Pastor Murray
It is now about as high as our garage and still climbing. Without the suction cups, that the typical ivy vine has, it seeks to weave itself into the crevices of the siding and the area that where the roof and the wall meet. At the end of each branch are small feelers that reach to touch something. I don’t think it has eyes but it would seem that it is looking for something.
For the past weeks the arms have been reaching out to the space around it –looking for more to hang on to. When I was cutting the grass the one arm of the plant reached out to touch me. Its arm was about six feet long as it now was away from the original plant and the support. As I brushed it – it waved at me and tickled my ear.
On your left, as you enter the backyard, there is a fence. Just over the fence is an arch way that my neighbour erected and then planted a grape vine. It is crawling skyward and hanging onto the arch way. It has now reached the top and is reaching out into the space around it for something more to hang onto.
My neighbour was frustrated with the plant last summer as it didn’t produce any grapes. So he cut it down. But – here it is again – tall and stretching for all it’s worth to hang on.
As our plant tickled my ear I looked up and saw where the touch came from. As I did I noticed it I happened to see my neighbours grape vine just about touching our trumpet vine. Both were reaching to the same area.
In that moment I thought, “What if….” And within a short time I strung a few pieces of twine from the trellis to their archway and the bond was possible. These past few days the two are continuing to reach out to each other – now touching. I have not doubt we will have a unique arbour to our yard in a few weeks time.
The simple lesson I find as I have continued to watch these plants is, together they are making a beautiful thing. Neither has produced the grapes or trumpets that we thought they would. But together they are making something. Interesting… hmmm.
I entered the house last evening after looking at the vines. More news flooded our home from London, England. The story was being played again about the Police in Britain arresting the 24 men that had allegedly plotted to destroy others with the liquid bombs aboard the airplanes. The potential disaster was hatched by the Islamic extremists with the violent hatred toward others – specially the USA and Britain. Another potential 9-11 or in this case 10-8 had played itself out.
Two vines planted by each other with intent to do their thing. Most of us ask why they can’t get along with each other? The answer is simple – hatred.
Following this TV report was another from Israel and southern Lebanon. So many rockets and bombs fired at each other. It is a nightly report now – followed by a Sports report either of Golf, or Tennis, or Baseball or soon Football. The events of Israel and the Hezbollah seem to be another score.
Why can’t they learn from the vines? Why can’t they get along? The answer again is – hatred. Age old and everlasting hatred existing side by side that is powerful and destructive in every way.
As I pondered the vines growing in front of me I have thought about the world events. What would happen if the different groups would reach out to each other and find support for what they really desire – looking after their families, building their communities and just living side by side? What would happen if the hatred was dropped and someone forgave another? I can’t change a world – only live in my own – I know that. But I can dream.
Locally Christians are another story. Christians standing(growing) side by side can do so much. If they reach out to each other what a difference they might make for others around them. They might well beautify a garden or the yard they are planted in. Sadly that is not always true. I have witnessed hatred here too.
But as I have been pondering this one… “What if….”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Pastor Murray
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Friday, August 11, 2006
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