The Tree Is On Fire
“Anthony! The tree is on fire!” were the words Tanya shouted at me down the basement stairs at 5:45 AM last Sunday. I thought we had made it through our first nor’easter unscathed, but I was wrong. The high winds caused a large branch to snap off a tree in our front yard, which took out the electrical lines and resulted in the burning tree in my front yard at 5:45 AM.
Now, here is the hilarious part. I called the electric company the week before asking them to cut back the branches that were resting on the wire. They came by when I was at work and left me a note saying, “Sorry we missed you. The tree shows no immediate signs of danger. We will be back between 2027 and 2028 to trim it.” They were clearly wrong. The fire finally went out before the fire department arrived. Thankfully, we were all ok. But it was quite the adventure to go through before the sun came up.
Today I invite you to PAUSE.
As you pause, I invite you to reflect on your life and ask God to show you if there are any areas in your life you have neglected that may need some pruning. Areas where you have thought, “Eh, that isn’t too bad; I will deal with that later.”
As we begin, I invite you to take a few deep breaths in and out.
Pray. Holy Spirit, as I enter this pause, I ask you to quiet my body, soul, and mind as I soberly reflect on my life.
Pause.
Read. Jesus said, “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.” (John 15:1–2)
Reflect. Are there any branches in your life that are not bearing fruit that you have been ignoring? Name those branches before God right now.
Pause.
Listen. It is God who does the hard work of pruning. Do you sense God asking you to permit him to begin his handy work in your life? If so, how will you respond to his request?
Pause.
Reflect. Jesus goes on to say, “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 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. 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. (John 15:3–5)
These words from Jesus are not a threat. Rather, he’s inviting us into deeper communion with himself. The overgrown branches in our lives eventually blind us to seeing his ever-present love in our lives. His Father desires to remove these overgrown, fruitless branches so we may experience his love in deeper and truer ways. He wants to do this work in our lives because he loves us. Receive his love for you today.
Pause.
Pray. Father, I permit you to prune the fruitless branches in my life. I submit myself to your love. Amen.
Grace and Peace.
