Monday’s Musings: Dead Branches USED

Modified and used 10/08/19

John 15:1-2  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  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.”

While Joe and Robert ran in the Peachtree Road Race, I took a 5 ½ mile walk around Hapeville.  I noticed many of my neighbors had pruned large branches off their trees and had them by the road for pick-up.  I saw other trees that were partially dead.  Every time it storms we pick up dead branches in our yard.  I mused that those dead branches could represent areas of our life that are dead and therefore no longer fruitful or useful.  I wondered where it might be good to do some pruning in my life.  In ministry we are taught to look for traditions and programs that no longer bear fruit in the church. 

Dead branches can cause harm to the tree’s healthy branches.  They can sap needed resources.  They can fall against the other branches and rip them from the trunk.  Some branches are alive but grow too long for their thickness. Branches like that become easily broken.  Like those branches we often become overextended or overinvested in something for which we no longer have the resources.  We hold on to things including relationships that are no longer good for us.  This past holiday was about independence.  Today let’s declare independence from dead or straggly branches in our life. If something does not serve us and we do not need to serve it then as the popular song goes, let it go.

Loving God, help us to recognize things that we must let go. Please bless and guide us throughout this day and week. Amen.

Blessings,
Paige