One of my favorite, peaceful places in the morning with my wake up cup of coffee is my front porch. It's nicely shaded with a comfortable place to sit. The plantings have taken off to where the blooms are something to behold. One of the contributing elements to the porch is the beautiful Rose of Sharon bush. However, when we bought the house, due to neglect from no one living here, it was out of control and badly in need of a major pruning. With pruning shears in hand, I aggressively undertook the task of lopping off branches which I judged were going to impede the look and desires we had for the curb appeal of our home. Thinking that task would keep it at a nice height and girth I realized all too quickly it was going to need another major pruning! I heartily undertook that task yet once more.
My view from the front porch has always been comforting as I look around at my neighbors' homes, greet passers-by and engage in friendly conversation with those whom we now know and have already grown to love. Along with enjoying my neighbors, I thoroughly delight in the vivid pink and purple petals that grace my view from that favorite seat. As those flowers sway in the welcome breeze I occasionally catch a hint of fragrance from the more pungent blossoms.
I realized this morning, however, that without notice, my peace had been subtly interrupted by that very Rose of Sharon that initially contributed graciously to the setting of my porch sanctuary. The heavy pruning performed earlier took scraggly sticks of an untamed eyesore and transformed it into a healthy, thick, and profuse bloomer, which up until now I have thoroughly enjoyed. The growth has been so rapid and dense that it's now totally obstructing my view and enjoyment of other things.
As I pondered this, I received a revelation from God on how, when He prunes us, we must guard our hearts or we will take that actual growth that occurs from the cutting away of what must go and quickly become overbearing in the new "us" that emerges. As lovely as we think we are or as others think we are, we can overshadow and overtake others who are blooming as well. Those others are serving a meaningful purpose as well but which no one can see now because we are in the way. When this happens, God has to prune us again. So even things which may appear as being absolutely gorgeous are going to have to go because they are obstructing a fuller purpose in which we are meant to flow together as one; each contributing to the big picture.
Look how overbearing this beautiful bush looks with my front porch…
And look what's totally hidden by the obstruction that beauty is creating!
With the third pruning since April, I had to cut away less than I wanted to because it would not be able to bear up under the severity of taking too much off at once and would not be able to withstand the intensity of this season. (God's mercy on us!) However...very soon...more pruning is in the plan for this beauty! (God's grace on us!)
"He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more." John 15:2
Lord, help us bear the pruning process and stay right before You in the process and aftermath. Help us not to think more highly of ourselves than we should and to put others first, thinking of them more often and ourselves less often. Holy Spirit...convict our hearts when we are overbearing and overshadowing someone else; when we are actually hindering the progress of someone else or stepping in areas where they belong. Amen
