By the way, “marshaling your energy wisely” is a bedrock of soul care. Pruning often is an invitation to do just that… to cut back; do less; live more deeply from the heart. Sometimes pruning and s is Soul Care are synonymous.
I’m wondering if the USA stands ready for a major pruning? I wonder if somehow climate change, political divide, all the travail upheaval and more are the pruning shears?
I agree that pruning has a lot to do with fruit and more fruit. But I just had my silver maples pruned not so that they would bear more fruit but so that wind would pass more easily through them so that they are not a danger to my residence. Perhaps as I age pruning, helps to get rid of the junk that catches and holds onto things thus allowing things to more easily pass through and be overlooked so that I can extend grace more easily.
This was beautiful and a perfect description of my life over the last few years. Definitely pruning! In all areas of my life. I am in the midst too. Kindred spirits in this season.
Thank you Steve. Pruning hurts and can hurt deeply but new growth is a always a sign of hope, encouragement and eventually excitement. Thank you for making me "think" deeply. What a wonderful gift God gave you Steve Smith!
Steve .. simply “beautifully written.” As I read, I felt the joy of moving back to your “roots”, the pain of the “realities of life” and lastly the “regrowth” of a beautiful soul. I have had pruning in my life, but had not thought of it in the way you described. I was pruned to the “stump” when my Russ left the earth to his heavenly home... yes pruned, but did not die. Much was revealed to me especially about “things of importance.”
Thank you my wonderful friend for sharing your heart so that we all can reflect and bring some clarity to our own pruning seasons! BTW love the Limelight Hydrangeas! Beautiful ❤️
"yes pruned, but did not die..." Seems like the language of pruning opens up a whole new way of putting words to such deep loss. Thank You Nancy for your words here. You are a witness of what it means to survive and yearnings of thriving. May it be so! Every blessing, dear companion!
This is some of your best writing ever (for me). Powerful, authentic, poignant, and raw. "It was a deep and massive trimming back to the stump of my soul." I felt these words so deeply, my friend. It's been beautiful to see the resurrection and new greening of your soul over the past year. I could see it coming in the leadup to your move/repositioning, and it gives me such joy and hope!
Hello Steve and Gwen. Hello friends. Thank you for the opportunity to be in this new space. It’s good for me to read your reflection on pruning Steve. Having been on the trail with you for some years, I can picture well the elements of a garden entangled in weeds. Yet, continually showing new growth and spring blooms. The last 10 years have been so hard! All you described has been a massive pruning makeover. Yours and Gwen’s new beginning has given those of us who are interconnected with you a sense of hope and perspective on how these things can go, what to look for, and guidance for how to do it. Those words in Galatians 5:22-23 absolutely describe what a beautiful soul looks like that has been thoroughly pruned and tended to. I’m picturing this soul like the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, an enclosed botanical garden where beauty and relationships come together for work, rest, and enjoyment. Perhaps Brevard and those pastoral mountains are your Opryland. Isn’t that what we all need and want? Thank you for your vulnerability in this Substack space. It’s risky to do so. I hope you be affirmed and encouraged here.
Dustin, I loved being in the Botanical garden of our life and work at Potter’s Inn. You were the Gardner of my soul then and still ate. Thank you! See you in October!
Several comments are needed here. I resonate with your sentence, “I had grown to like my over-grown life.” I could have written this about my own life as well, deceived to often thinking more was better despite learning repeatedly in life and in teaching that “less was more.” Reading this morning in Mtt 13 about the wheat and tares--God is responsible and will winnow out the weeds growing in the world and in my life. I know different parable and point but somehow connected imagery in my mind. Yes I have responsibility to weed but God is always faithful to weed (when safe) or prune in your imagery. Can I relax in this pruning time, trusting that the Lord knows the fruit that He desires to see. In my own early retirement years, I continue to see pruning in many of these--physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually. Your comments encourage me to be patient with the long term process. God is at work even when I am confused about where we might end up. Thanks
“The long term process”.... it was 40 years for the Children of Israel, three years for Paul in the Arabian desert following his conversion. Perhaps the process is but the spiritual
Journey... all of it. Love your comments! Thank you!
The picture in this post are the shrubs I was referring to. They are magnificent. Their magnificence comes from their being pruned. I buried what I thought was dead wood. Now this— their glor that I see every day now. Thank you!
Definitely resonate with this. You know our story over the last 2.5 years. Very pruny! Looking forward to some new growth. I feel like 2024 is the year for that. Maybe.
If we could now learn the art of microwaving the pruning process. But don’t think there is one. Not for Israel… not for Paul’s three years in Arabia. Whether it is 40 days or 40 years, we remain in God’s hands and on the potter’s wheel. Prayers for strength and grace my friend!
I Love the descriptive unfolding of your processing being pruned. Not quick, not painless, not clear, but looking back it was so necessary. Loved reading this.
Wow! I identify with a great deal of what you have said in these words. My life was way too crowded for so many years and there was absolutely no focus on taking care of myself. I'm learning more every day to take care of myself. I've spent since last November taking better care of my physical self. I feel so much better for doing so. Love you and love Gwen. Miss seeing you. You're close now, come and see us all!
Hey Bonnie! I’m so glad to read your words. Pruning might give us a way of making sense. It has me! Every time we see round bails of hay, we think of your Dad and Mom who for sure, knew about pruning!
I wonder if the American church stands ready for a major pruning-- perhaps even a major reformation. I’m wondering about a lot these days. Aren’t you?
By the way, “marshaling your energy wisely” is a bedrock of soul care. Pruning often is an invitation to do just that… to cut back; do less; live more deeply from the heart. Sometimes pruning and s is Soul Care are synonymous.
I’m wondering if the USA stands ready for a major pruning? I wonder if somehow climate change, political divide, all the travail upheaval and more are the pruning shears?
I agree that pruning has a lot to do with fruit and more fruit. But I just had my silver maples pruned not so that they would bear more fruit but so that wind would pass more easily through them so that they are not a danger to my residence. Perhaps as I age pruning, helps to get rid of the junk that catches and holds onto things thus allowing things to more easily pass through and be overlooked so that I can extend grace more easily.
So good and spot on. Pruning helps us let go. Thank you!
This was beautiful and a perfect description of my life over the last few years. Definitely pruning! In all areas of my life. I am in the midst too. Kindred spirits in this season.
Thank you Steve. Pruning hurts and can hurt deeply but new growth is a always a sign of hope, encouragement and eventually excitement. Thank you for making me "think" deeply. What a wonderful gift God gave you Steve Smith!
Steve .. simply “beautifully written.” As I read, I felt the joy of moving back to your “roots”, the pain of the “realities of life” and lastly the “regrowth” of a beautiful soul. I have had pruning in my life, but had not thought of it in the way you described. I was pruned to the “stump” when my Russ left the earth to his heavenly home... yes pruned, but did not die. Much was revealed to me especially about “things of importance.”
Thank you my wonderful friend for sharing your heart so that we all can reflect and bring some clarity to our own pruning seasons! BTW love the Limelight Hydrangeas! Beautiful ❤️
"yes pruned, but did not die..." Seems like the language of pruning opens up a whole new way of putting words to such deep loss. Thank You Nancy for your words here. You are a witness of what it means to survive and yearnings of thriving. May it be so! Every blessing, dear companion!
This is some of your best writing ever (for me). Powerful, authentic, poignant, and raw. "It was a deep and massive trimming back to the stump of my soul." I felt these words so deeply, my friend. It's been beautiful to see the resurrection and new greening of your soul over the past year. I could see it coming in the leadup to your move/repositioning, and it gives me such joy and hope!
I guess it’s like one stump talking to another stump! And hopefully it’s now a flourishing time. I think it is for you and Sarah! Thank you Jared!
Hello Steve and Gwen. Hello friends. Thank you for the opportunity to be in this new space. It’s good for me to read your reflection on pruning Steve. Having been on the trail with you for some years, I can picture well the elements of a garden entangled in weeds. Yet, continually showing new growth and spring blooms. The last 10 years have been so hard! All you described has been a massive pruning makeover. Yours and Gwen’s new beginning has given those of us who are interconnected with you a sense of hope and perspective on how these things can go, what to look for, and guidance for how to do it. Those words in Galatians 5:22-23 absolutely describe what a beautiful soul looks like that has been thoroughly pruned and tended to. I’m picturing this soul like the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, an enclosed botanical garden where beauty and relationships come together for work, rest, and enjoyment. Perhaps Brevard and those pastoral mountains are your Opryland. Isn’t that what we all need and want? Thank you for your vulnerability in this Substack space. It’s risky to do so. I hope you be affirmed and encouraged here.
Dustin, I loved being in the Botanical garden of our life and work at Potter’s Inn. You were the Gardner of my soul then and still ate. Thank you! See you in October!
Several comments are needed here. I resonate with your sentence, “I had grown to like my over-grown life.” I could have written this about my own life as well, deceived to often thinking more was better despite learning repeatedly in life and in teaching that “less was more.” Reading this morning in Mtt 13 about the wheat and tares--God is responsible and will winnow out the weeds growing in the world and in my life. I know different parable and point but somehow connected imagery in my mind. Yes I have responsibility to weed but God is always faithful to weed (when safe) or prune in your imagery. Can I relax in this pruning time, trusting that the Lord knows the fruit that He desires to see. In my own early retirement years, I continue to see pruning in many of these--physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually. Your comments encourage me to be patient with the long term process. God is at work even when I am confused about where we might end up. Thanks
“The long term process”.... it was 40 years for the Children of Israel, three years for Paul in the Arabian desert following his conversion. Perhaps the process is but the spiritual
Journey... all of it. Love your comments! Thank you!
So beautifully written. I had my shrubs pruned back in the spring and they came back better than ever! And so do we!
The picture in this post are the shrubs I was referring to. They are magnificent. Their magnificence comes from their being pruned. I buried what I thought was dead wood. Now this— their glor that I see every day now. Thank you!
Definitely resonate with this. You know our story over the last 2.5 years. Very pruny! Looking forward to some new growth. I feel like 2024 is the year for that. Maybe.
If we could now learn the art of microwaving the pruning process. But don’t think there is one. Not for Israel… not for Paul’s three years in Arabia. Whether it is 40 days or 40 years, we remain in God’s hands and on the potter’s wheel. Prayers for strength and grace my friend!
I Love the descriptive unfolding of your processing being pruned. Not quick, not painless, not clear, but looking back it was so necessary. Loved reading this.
Not quick. Not painless… but! 😎
Wow! I identify with a great deal of what you have said in these words. My life was way too crowded for so many years and there was absolutely no focus on taking care of myself. I'm learning more every day to take care of myself. I've spent since last November taking better care of my physical self. I feel so much better for doing so. Love you and love Gwen. Miss seeing you. You're close now, come and see us all!
Hey Bonnie! I’m so glad to read your words. Pruning might give us a way of making sense. It has me! Every time we see round bails of hay, we think of your Dad and Mom who for sure, knew about pruning!