After a heavy pre-Unleavened Bread pruning (discussed in "Lessons From My Small Vineyard, June United News, page 11), what do vines do for the rest of the year?

It seems that by the time Pentecost comes around, some are in full leaf, which is nice, but the runners (false vines) have come right back again in full force. This means another round of pruning, which if done quickly, can be left to rot back into the soil as fertilizer. However, when not removed quickly, they harden into wood, which must be collected and burned (John 15:6).

Each vine again needs focused attention from the husbandman to put it back on the best track to produce fruit, and this is the time when the true condition of the vine shows. Some are strong and lush, despite no water, with grapes already forming.

Others can barely push out a few branches and leaves, and some now only have runners coming from the base—the rest of the vine looks dead. These don't get dug out—perhaps next year they may just come around... Some are only runners; the vines have broken off. These can be dug out.

Working on oneself is much harder than all this. God makes us aware of our problem areas through His Word, and He gives us time, endurance, patience and faith, while we keep going over and over these areas, slowly pruning out, taking stock and very imperceptibly developing fruit.

We, like the green grapes waiting to ripen, sit in the hot, dry, tiring heat of this world, inexorably moving toward the harvest. The harvest is coming to my vineyard, and we know by God's Word that it's coming to His Church.