“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
February. Valentines Day. Love.
Also – in my part of the world, the best time to prune back fruit trees and grape vines, both of which I have.
My husband and I spent all morning deciding which branches to keep, and which to leave. We cut back a third of our apple tree, and 80% of our grape vines. That’s a LOT of pruning! Whenever I work with the grape vines I’m reminded of Jesus’ words final words to His disciples in John 14. He speaks of branches that bear fruit, and branches that are pruned off and burned. He speaks of the importance of remaining connected, abiding, in Him.
The two verses quoted above bookend this talk of bearing fruit, and pruning, and abiding. “A NEW command I give you” – a change to the law given to God’s people, a law that had remained unchanged for thousands of years. “Love one another.” “Love each other, as I have loved you”. When Jesus says something twice (actually three times) in close proximity, I pay attention.
This love is so much more than a bouquet of flowers or a nice dinner. So much more than bubble baths and candles. This is a love that requires pruning and sacrifice, a releasing of unnecessary distractions. Today, we cut off young branches. Established branches. Green branches. Branches with buds on them. We made sure that, come warmer weather, the sun will shine on each remaining branch.
What, in order to best love others, do you need to prune? Can you lean into Jesus and trust the nudging of the Holy Spirit? Can you say no to good things - things that might be obscuring the light that God is shining into your life? Can you create space so that God’s light can flow through you unencumbered? How can your yoga practice help you do this?
I pray, in this month devoted to love, that each unnecessary branch of your life is pruned back, and that you find yourself loving others as Jesus has loved you!
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