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Restore us, God Almighty;

make your face shine on us,

that we may be saved.

You transplanted a vine from Egypt;

you drove out the nations and planted it.

You cleared the ground for it,

and it took root and filled the land.

The mountains were covered with its shade,

the mighty cedars with its branches.

Its branches reached as far as the Sea,

its shoots as far as the River.

Why have you broken down its walls

so that all who pass by pick its grapes?

Boars from the forest ravage it,

and insects from the fields feed on it.

Return to us, God Almighty!

Look down from heaven and see!

Watch over this vine,

the root your right hand has planted,

the son you have raised up for yourself.

 

We have a much-loved congregation member who is known for his food - in particular, mac &

cheese and chocolate chip cookies. My favorite treats are actually his home-grown tomatoes. In

fact, I love them so much that I planted a small container garden on my deck this season,

thinking to myself, “this will be easy”.

 

Well… a few months in, I think I’ve managed to yield only 2-3 edible tomatoes- and they were

probably the ones that were already ripening when I purchased the plant. I never replanted it in

better soil and I may have forgotten to water it a few times…

 

There are a few lessons here. First - you may not want to trust me to tend your garden.

 

But with more seriousness, it brings to mind the much-used biblical metaphor of being planted

and rooted.

 

Psalm 80 describes God’s people as a vine that God brought out of Egypt and transplanted into

a new land. God cleared the ground, planted it, and allowed roots to grow deep.

I love the image of us being transplanted. A vine isn’t necessarily choosing where it will be

planted. We move around, find our lives full of different people and circumstances. Yet God

always provides us with fertile ground so that we may grow.

 

A healthy grapevine needs deep roots before it can produce fruit. God is often doing work

beneath the surface of our lives before we can see the fruit above it. God strengthens us,

teaches us and loves us deeply- all in ways that nourish and support our growth.

 

We are, in a very real way, planted in Jesus, no matter our circumstances. We can follow this

image of a grapevine making its way to the communion table– in the very blood of Jesus. The

fruit becomes wine, becomes the body of Christ, becomes nourishment.

What soil are you planted in? Who are the people that offer you nourishment? What do you

need to thrive and grow and produce fruit?

 

God, help me to grow where you have planted me.

Karen Cauley karenowllandahl@gmail.com

 

Prayer Concern - For those who are unable to sense their nourishment.