Lessons in the Vine

Grape Harvest @ Gouveia Vineyards
Wallingford, CT
Image by Peter Aldrich

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:4 (NIV)

In the early morning sun, grapes hung fragrant, ripe and heavy from the vine.  The vineyard buzzed with activity from both man and bee as we harvested our community's first autumn crop. I met the challenge cheerfully, anticipating time spent outdoors tending the vines alongside my husband and neighbors.

Conversations in the field were as plentiful as the grapes. Some were boisterous and jolly, awaiting the end-of-harvest drinks shared in celebration. Others were soft spoken and patient as they taught their little ones the proper way to cut the fruit from the vine.

There was so much going on around me but the more grapes I harvested the more I found my spirit contemplating the lessons in the vine.

One Word 2017

Winter Apple by Justin LaBerge
Flickr.com_/photos/jml78/15932703399
CC BY-ND 2.0

I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fileds! They are ripe for harvest. John 4:35b

The new year approaches without pause; a natural course marked by a wintry blanket tucked in around the corners of a slumbering earth.

While silence falls outside, one word swirls like the wind inside my mind: harvest. A strange word, I think, for a snow-fallen day. But, there it is. Unshakable. Stubborn. Lingering. It's an answer to my annual question, "What's my one word for the new year, Lord?"

"Harvest," He replies.

Like every season, it's an appointed time; one that can be marked on the calendar. But, unlike the growing season, it's a very limited time marked by urgency and the flurry of hardworking hands. For if the ripened fruits are not harvested before winter, the fruits will die and many will grow hungry. Harvest work must be done NOW. There is no "later". 

Indian Summer

"Blessed be the name of God, forever and ever. He knows all, does all: He changes the seasons and guides history..."Daniel 2:19

Cool air rushes in with thoughts of early autumn. We dig deep into closets and drawers for sweatshirts and socks with smiles of relief from hot, humid August--anticipating all good things of fall.

Calendars now read Autumn but, sweat like hot, humid August meets our skin instead. It doesn't feel like fall, yet hope of autumn's sweetness abounds: ripened apples, rounded pumpkins, flowing wine presses, leaves spotted red and gold. Truth held by earth's bounty indeed testifies to this new season, yet we linger in season past, almost disappointed.

Promise speaks forth from heaven's Hope to our souls. God sings songs over us forgiven sons and daughters. He delights in promised vine-fruit from our life-branches grafted in Hope. We linger in summer--fruit grows, turns toward the Son, ripens--we mature. Truth held by soul's bounty proclaims a new season but, it doesn't feel like harvest. Our fruit- bearing vines seem insignificant. But, the calendar reads autumn.

Like New England Inidian Summers that toy with our senses--God's spoken promises may not seem to be in season. The calendar says it's harvest time but, we don't see any fruit. We start to doubt God's call on our lives to harvest anything and step out into the heat--disillusioned and disappointed.

But God promises in Isaiah 55:11 (NIV) "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Linger in hope of the present season--God's word spoken into you as active and now. That's faith. Walk in obedience to the words God sings over you in hope and promise with faith that He will bring the harvest. That's joy.

Do you feel disappointed in the change of season? Do you feel like you're lingering in Indian Summer when it should be fall? Are there God-promises that you feel will never be harvested in season?

Dear Lord,
May we live in the season of "now" and walk forward in obedience to your words spoken over us, tonight. Grow our faith as we place our hope in you that though it doesn't feel like a new season, we continue to sow seed knowing you will bring the harvest--not by our works--but by your grace.

* Topic adapted from sermon "Spiritual DNA" by Bob Hazlett, Wellspring Church 9/24/11