Tending the Vine

Last summer, I discovered the joy of cycling through the vineyards that are one valley over from where I live in Kandern, Germany. (Between Holzen and Tannenkirch).


In early September they started putting up netting over the vines to keep the birds off.

And then in late September and October came the harvest. The vines were loaded down with beautiful green grapes (and a few red ones). There were roadside grape vendors, and lots of local grapes at the grocery store. The Autumn festivals all boasted new wine. 

On my last few rides before winter set in, the vines were picked clean and then I did not see them until this week. After weeks of snow, on February 2, it got up to 55 and I decided to go on my first real bike ride of the spring. 

I rode through one set of vineyards and didn't notice anything. After all, there were no leaves. But then I went to the other side and there I saw people out working among the vines. And I realized they were pruning the vines in preparation for warmer weather and a new season of growth. 

I remembered a Bible Study my small group did several years back on John 15. 

John 15: 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

The study pointed out that it is the new growth that is cut off each year to allow more growth. And that it might be painful the things that are cut off. 

Here is the before picture. The vine (french: le cep) is the dark brown section going about half way up. And the Branches (french: les sarments) are the red parts in the upper half. 

What struck me this week was HOW much they cut off.
My inclination would be to cut off maybe half of last year's growth.
I was shocked to see that there was just one little branch left coming out of the vine.

Below you can see the untrimmed vines on the left. And the trimmed ones on the right, looking a lot like Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.



Seriously, you would think the vine would not grow at all with just ONE little branch to grow leaves. But then I remembered the verse. The growth comes because the branch is connected to the Vine which has roots going down and provides nutrients:

4. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Here is one last shot:

This is the finished work of pruning. See all that has been cut off from last year. We must not cling to our growth from last year, but allow ourselves to be pruned back.

And leave the rest to be gathered up, and thrown into the fire! (vs 6)

But

7) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Picture I took in 2012 in France, of a vine with new growth.