Spill the Wine

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John 15:1-4

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.

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Spill the wine,
Take that pearl.

"Spill the Wine" written by Eric Burdon and recorded by Eric Burdon and War from the album "Eric Burdon Declares War"

If there is one thing that is clear in John's writing about the vine and the branches it is that what is worthless is cut away. We often involuntarily twinge a bit at the prospect of pruning, but what gets lost is that what is worthless, what is dead, won't feel the pain of being cut away. Literally it is what is "cut-away." Then, it's off to the fire with the rest of the dead wood to provide heat and light. Then again, that's not the kind of timber that will burn long so it's not worth much for that purpose either.

The trick is that for the branches to be fed, the branches have to abide in the vine and the vine in the root. That is how the nourishment of the soil, water, and sun come together to become something so very delightful.

Another word that can be used for abide is "rest." I love the image in resting. In resting there is no resisting. In resting there is revitalization. Resting is being revived. As we rest we accept what comes, even when what comes includes heat and drought. Resting, not fighting to get what is not of use, is what we are called to do. As for the branches that don't, they won't bear fruit and they will be pruned.

When we fight we don't get what we need. When we resist we prevent what we need from coming to us. When we deny what we need, we won't accept it. But as we abide, as we rest in the vine, the fruit that follows is glorious, it is stupendous.

Back in the days of the Lord, there was still a grading system of wines. Sure, there wasn't the vintage system that vintners have today, but still you knew the difference between the good wine, the table wine, and the rot-gut stuff only the winos would drink. We are called to be of the finest vintage and that only happens when we abide.

Chill the wine, take that pearl!