7/14/10

Natural Pruning

Traipsing through the woods when we were camping, I was so glad for the process God devised for providing my firewood: natural pruning. Whenever possible, I only use dead branches and saplings that are already on the ground; one might say I'm just too cheap—or ecologically minded, that is-- to buy firewood.

Trees of course, grow many branches that are useful, even essential for a time, and then they die and break off; and no telling how many sprouts and sapling start, only to survive a time before they die-- and become my firewood! I sometimes look back over the paths I've taken in life and wondered “what if I went a different route?” or what if I had
pursued a particular promising opportunity? On my wiser days, I cut those thoughts short-- they are paths that have been naturally pruned from my life, opening up yet others I'm following now. Those opportunities or relationships may have fed us in very helpful ways for a time, but like the no-longer-useful-branches, they have already served
their purposes, and are no longer needed in our lives.

As we help the little ones in our lives discern God's will, encouraging a variety of paths can be very helpful, as “all things work together for the good of those who love (God) and are called to his purposes,” yet like the branches that have become my firewood, a part of God's guidance comes from where we are continually pruned of no longer useful avenues. When a child enjoys a baseball team for a time and then moves on, the time was not wasted, but was a trove of valuable lessons, even is she never picks up a baseball again. Or it could become a tool in another context: I played little league baseball for a time, then, after dropping the ball for twenty years, a church softball league became a
catalyst in transforming the church I served.

We seek and find God's guidance-- both as adults and as budding little ones (with ample adult input!)-- through Our Prayers-- Our Presence-- Our Gifts-- Our Service-- Our Witness. Sometimes through the avenues that open, sometimes through the branches that close and are pruned away. Are you intentional about your spiritual gardening? Are you
intentional in helping the little ones in your care in their spiritual gardening?

Pruning can at times be painful-- but it guides us into God's wisdom, and can provide for some wonderful “s'mores”!

Blessings all around-
Rev. Jim