True Vine

‘I am the true

 vine, and my

 Father is the

 vine-grower. Whoever does 

not abide in 

me is thrown

 away like a

 branch and

 withers; such branches are gathered, 

thrown into

 the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide

 in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and 

become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have

 loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments,

 you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things

 to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

 ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have 

loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s

 life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I 

command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because 

the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I 

have called you friends, because I have made known to you 

everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not

 choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and 

bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you

 whatever you ask him in my name. John 15:1, 6-16

True Vine

Staying joined, connected

a loved one among so many

together we face the storms

bound as one to produce fruit.

Chosen and fully instructed

the weather and storms attack

the pruning and shaping hurts

we hold each other throughout.

Our lives are so entangled

our love is so connected

we are branches so dependent

on the love of the true vine.

In summer's robust heights

we can think ourselves alone

yet all the pretty leaves

do not provide one gift.

We are branches of the vine

the outgrowth of divine love

we rejoice in our belonging

by bearing the fruits of love.