The front cover of the magazine read "This is your last issue." My first reaction was to see if I had forgotten to pay for the renewal. But as I opened the journal and begin to read, it became clear that this was the issue to be published. The editorial began to fill in the details of what led to the decision to cease publication. Sometimes even good things just need to stop if it no longer fulfills the intended purpose.
Those are hard decisions to make. Some will not be happy that the magazine will no longer share inspirational articles...I am one of those people! However, they have made the decision and I must live with it. Again...it is not about me!
But the concept caused me to contemplate my own life and ask "is there anything I should stop so that something better might occur?" That is what pruning is all about. You cut back just the right amount of a tree, rose bush, or plant so that new growth may take place. My gardener knows just the right amount to prune on our roses so that the beautiful flower blooms in the best possible way.
As 2009 closes and a new year begins, many of us will begin to evaluate what to prune or completely dig up and discard. I will go through this process again over the next few days. I go through the pruning routine quarterly so that roots don't grow too deep where they may cause damage. Jesus often withdrew from people to keep himself well connected to His Father, and maintain proper focus on his true purpose.
So...what will you prune from your life? And what do you hope to grow from the experience?
Comments