The prospect of pruning can be pretty off putting if we're still attached to the things that we know God is telling us to separate from. But the act of pruning is done out of love, in order to stimulate growth. Understanding the purpose of pruning is key if we're to appreciate it as a positive exercise when we're called to do it in our lives.
The dictionary defines pruning as "to trim by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems, especially to encourage growth," and this definition works when thinking about pruning in a Christian sense. For us to grow spiritually, become purposeful and remain in a healthy relationship with Christ we have to cut the bad influences and distractions out of our lives. We can't continue to pursue worldly values which don't correspond with godly values if we choose to prioritise God and put him at the centre of our lives. "The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives for ever," (1 John 2:17).
What Jesus says in John 15:1-4 is a great reminder of the positivity and purpose of pruning. "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." Essentially, the things which don't lead to Jesus cannot remain in our lives if we chose to remain in Jesus.
Christians around the world are taking part in Lent fasting which can be an effective way of removing the urge to satisfy lesser desires in the longterm. Speaking on the topic of Lent and pruning last week, Pope Francis said: "Lent is a beneficial time of pruning from falsity, from worldliness, from indifference: to not think that everything is ok if I am ok; to understand that what counts is not approval, the pursuit of success or consensus, but purity of heart and life."
The process of pruning is rarely easy but reminding ourselves of the point of it, the fact that it frees us up to fulfil God's purpose for us, can help us adjust to the changes we're called to make.
