Pruning - Pastor's Pen for 2nd July 2026

The church feijoa hedge needs a jolly good prune. There were plenty of fruit this season but many were small and uninspiring. Late winter is the time for it, along with pulling out windblown and bird delivered self-seeding plants and shrubs getting in the way, choking the undergrowth.

Pruning is a metaphor for spiritual discipline and growth, applied to Israel, for example, in Psalm 80 and Isaiah 5, or to the followers of Jesus in John 15. That which is displeasing to God will be cut off, so that the vine might bear good fruit. Theologian Matthew Fox wrote; "Pruning creates strength, richness, depth, though temporarily, pruning conjures up doubt and fear. It takes a wise gardener to know when and how and how much to cut back a beautiful rose...So it takes a wise individual to prune himself or herself according to one's unique needs and timing."

People of faith attribute the pruning to the work of God's Holy Spirit. Mostly, we would by human nature prefer not to be pruned, but to be left alone in comfort. Yet as we journey through life we will inevitably experience things that break us down and refine us, in small or more significant ways. We should not minimise the trauma people experience by turning everything into a spiritual lesson at the time. However, often with hindsight we see that God has indeed strengthened us and supported us through each challenge. Like the vine or the fruit tree, we need a little time to recover before new growth and fruit flourish. Maybe we need a lot of time. God in the Spirit is a patient gardener, we should do all within our power to remain in Him. Shalom