Pruning Our Lives

The large tree in our yard was straining as the wind whipped through its branches. You could best describe it as hissing sounds mixed in a rush to get the branches. In the morning however it was a little different. There was a loud popping sound added to the pitch of the wind. A huge branch had broken high up in the canopy. Our tree needed serious surgery.

As the day wore on the loud popping mixed with further cracking sounds indicated that it was not getting better. As I surveyed the branches a large spilt could be seen in one branch about 35 feet up in the tree. It was big.

Later in the evening the City’s Public Utilities Service came to our driveway and did extreme, emergency surgery. Two very large trucks arrived. One with the huge cheery picker reached into the tree and cut the branches away until they arrived at the broken limb. In all it took the better part of one hour to prune the tree. The crews worked steadily through the high wind and the bitterly cold temperature of last night.

As I watched last night the verse from the Bible became even more clear. When I came inside after it was over I looked it up in “The Message” Jesus said …
John 15:1-8 (The Message)
The Vine and the Branches
1-3 "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. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.
4"Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
5-8"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

I know that our 65 foot high Manitoba Maple is not a grape vine. But it is a wonderful shade tree that offers great relief in the summer. Without the pruning of last evening it may well have been a danger to anyone and everyone that came by our driveway. Worse yet it was a definite danger to the “high tension” power lines running down our street. In fact if it fell over the lines with its great weight it would have likely taken the power out for many houses on our street and community. This was the reason that the two trucks arrived within a short time after the call.

As I reflected further I thought of how God prunes my life as well. He takes the branches away to help with the fruit production. He also takes the branches away so that the danger factor is lessened for all those that are near me. Broken and dangerous branches create peril for all those nearby.

Recently I spoke with a broken grandmother that has lost her joy. You see grandpa had left her for some one else younger. I was blown away when the story unfolded in front of me. Seven grandkids are watching and three children. They cannot seem to help the broken heart of grandma. They have no idea of how they will ever relate to grandpa again. Grandpa’s statement was simple and straight forward – “I was not happy in that relationship all these years. Now I have found someone I can be happy with. You will just have to deal with it.”

I could relate more family horror stories that I have witnessed over the years.

The branches of relationships are broken. Horrible sin of selfishness has crept in to destroy the first life – the first branch. Then with that initial sin many others branches will be destroyed if it is not dealt with. Pruning should have taken place – emergency surgery was needed – but it never happened and the whole family tree was lost.

As hard as it was last evening to watch the chain saws go after our magnificent tree – it was necessary for its long range health.

When I complain to God sometimes that things are not what I wanted or anticipated – he smiles and tells me it is for my own good.

Have you heard any spiritual chain saws in your life lately? I have in mine.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~