Pruning

I just received my new bookmarks in the mail which I will be giving away at my NY City book signing November 13th. I had never designed and printed bookmarks before so I was so excited as I opened the box. Alas, while the photos on the book marks are lovely, the fine print which has all my contact info is so tiny as to be almost unreadable. At least you can read my name clearly...

I don't have time to make new ones, and even if I did, then what would I do with the 100 I now have? They are perfectly usable as bookmarks, and like I said, they have pretty pictures on them, and my name. I suppose it could be worse. Still, I was so disappointed. I had wanted them to be perfect. 

My painting above is of a willow tree. Willows are among my favorite trees, but they have a fatal flaw. Their branches are forever falling off. (I know this because every spring I used to help my parents pick up the fallen branches on their lake property which was covered with willows on the shoreline.) I felt like a willow with branches snapping away in the breeze as I gazed forlornly at my bookmarks.

Nothing ever seems to go quite as expected. I will bring them as giveaways to the book signing because they are all I have. That is often how life goes. It isn't perfect, or really even close, but you move forward with all you have. There really isn't much choice. Most of us are willows with missing branches here and there. Some of us, depending on the season of our life, seem to be missing more branches than we are carrying on our weary trunk.

The Bible tells us that God is in the business of removing branches. He purposely prunes every branch that does not bear fruit in His attempts to strengthen those that do! For a while, a newly pruned tree looks barren, and the brutal hedging doesn't remotely appear to be an act of love. But in the end, when the harvest comes, and the tree is bursting with fruit, it will be obvious it all was worth it.

So if you get one of my lovely bookmarks with the indecipherable print, remember God is pruning me and be gentle. I will know next time how to make better bookmarks.

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John 15:1-11

 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.