Recently, I got a new toy [start up my chainsaw – without the chain] I know what you are thinking “Oh, oh a priest with a chainsaw.” Don’t worry there is no chain in this. I’m been using this to cut off branches, trim up trees and prune things.
Whenever I clean up a tree, it feels like the tree is saying, “Thank you. I needed that.” Trimming branches helps the tree, especially evergreen trees . . . cutting off those dead branches at the bottom help the tree to breathe.
It reminds me of the story of the man who had a huge lemon tree. He welcomed anyone to come and collect lemons off the tree. And if his neighbors didn’t come and take some, he would go and deliver lemons to them.
Lemon trees produce many lemons only if you prune them. And you must prune them at the right time. Well one year, the owner was gone for months, and had a neighbor attend to his lemon trees. The neighbor was over excited and REALLY pruned. He did too much . . . and no lemons appeared that year.
Likewise if you never pruned a lemon tree, you’d end up with only woody branches that produce small fruit that do not taste good. Good pruning leads to good fruit.
Now the same thing can happen to us. We all need some pruning, that is, some improvements on ourselves. But we could do “too much” meaning that we really cut ourselves down . . . e.g. “I am no good. I will never understand this. Everyone else is better than me.” Those thoughts are never true and you will not produce the good fruit that God has in store for you.
Same thing with doing nothing. That is, in thinking “I am just fine the way I am. I don’t ever need to adjust my thoughts or actions, it’s everyone else who is screwed up. I am perfect.” With that attitude, your fruit will be small and not helpful.
Instead, like the lemon tree, of like a grape vine . . . we all need some improvements, some adjusting.
- That is what we do at the beginning of Mass with the Penitential Rite.
- That is what reconciliation can do: allow us the opportunity to look at our lives.
- It is also what a therapist, or a Spiritual Director can help us do.
But the real instrument for pruning is yourself. To honestly admit your faults and make commitment to work on them. And this needs to be done in a spiritual context. As I always tell people . . . ALL problems come down to a spiritual solution. All issues can be simplified to one question . . . How is your relationship with God?
If it’s not good, starting working on it. It start by talking to God from your heart . . . everyday. If your relationship is good, then you and God start talking about what/how you can improve. Ask yourself:
- What do I need to let go of?
- What sticking thinking has me trapped?
- What do I need to limit yourself on?
- What spiritual gift do I have that could be nourished?
In the gospel, Jesus says that we are connected to God through him. St. Catherine of Genoe said, “My Deepest Me Is God.”