Meditation

Read John 15:1-9

Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.”—John 15:5 (NRSV)

When my husband and I moved to the countryside, we wanted to plant a vineyard and make small batches of wine. So we consulted a local winemaker who recommended varieties of grapes for our climate; we carefully planted the vineyard; we set out a drip line, constructed support wires, and pruned the grapevines. We worked for five years but couldn’t get anything to grow. The grapes would form and then wither in the summer heat.

Along with the grapes, we also planted a couple of blackberry bushes. They loved the soil, the water we lavished on the vineyard, and the climate. Before long, we had rows of productive blackberry bushes. One summer we harvested 200 cups of fruit! Eventually we let their vines take over the grapes.

I realized how much life is like our vineyard. We make plans and envision a future, but often we encounter God in the unexpected—in the blackberry bushes. If we stubbornly stick to our plans, we may miss the opportunities God places in front of us.

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for your bountiful gifts. Help us to see you guiding hand at work in our lives so that we can know that you are the true vine and our source of life. Amen.

Thought for the day: I gain perspective when I let go of my plans and look for God.

—Kathryn Jones Malone, Texas