Springtime. Growth, Green. Creation coming alive! Every year, I am in awe at the beauty, creativity, and diversity in God’s great creation!
While no one will call me a gardener, I have dabbled enough in the dirt to know a lot goes into preparing and tending plants. My favorite part is pruning. There is something quite satisfying about removing dead leaves, flower heads, and branches. A little less satisfying, but maybe more important, is removing branches and stems that appear healthy and growing. For various reasons, this is necessary for the overall health and growth of the plant.
How applicable this is to me! Over the years, it has been and continues to be relatively easy to “prune” the dead growth in myself. Life seems to have naturally brought that part of myself to an end, where it felt “right”. The challenge for me continues to be those parts that continue to be “alive” and “life-giving” – or so they seem.
This spring, I am feeling called to sit with a plant or two that needs some pruning. To just be with these plants and invite the Holy Spirit to guide me to those parts in myself that no longer serve me, or God’s will, and let them go. Yes – Let. Them. Go.
“…Every branch in me that bears no fruit [God] cuts away,
and every branch that does bear fruit [God] prunes to make it bear even more.”
John 15:2
(The Jerusalem Bible, 1966, Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, NY)
I will be sitting with John 15: 1-17 this spring and listening for what the Holy Spirit will tell me is mine to prune:
> What has become a habit that does not bring me closer to God?
> What sours my heart, taking up room that God could inhabit instead?
> Where do I need to let go so God can grow something new in me, possibly something out of my comfort zone?
> What question might you ask God about pruning in your life?
– Adele DiNatale-Svetnicka
Adele, your four questions are very good and will help me. As I continue in retirement, which does not mean now I have so much extras time that I am not working, I am trying to select carefully where and what to focus my time and efforts on.
Thank you
Thank you Adele for this meditation. I find pruning or letting go difficult at times and from pass experiences I know it’s part of the growth process in my life.I pray to be able to Let go and let God .
Adele, thanks so much for your reflection and the 4 questions. It has challenged me to do some deep thinking. Greatly appreciated
Wonderful food for thought, Adele. Well done!
Adele
Thank you for those 4 questions.
I’ve got some areas that seem to be a continual work in progress…
It seems like parts of my life are always in need of pruning. The hardest like you said is pruning back the things that are good. The things that no longer give me life are easy to get rid of. Thank you for reflection
Well said.