03/28/2023
Finally pruned back the mess of my grape vines. I try to do this in January/February, but the days got away from me. These vines are going into their 5th season. They were the first things we planted on our property…even before we had a well to water them.
At the end of the first season, the bark was so young. There was little distinction between the old and new growth. I remember being terrified to prune it back. Now, 5 years later, my eye is more trained, but more than that, the old bark shows it’s age. There are scars from pruning in previous winters, the bark shows wrinkles and exfoliation and age, providing a clear visual cue for where to cut back on new growth. As I looked at the beauty of the aged bark, I couldn’t help but think back on the previous years and the food these vines have provided. I could find scars from the cuts of previous years. The aged wood helps guide my pruning, but also it now visually tells a story of these vines on our farm.
We all have scars on our hands and heart- reminders of where we have been pruned and shaped, or times where brokenness has entered in. When examined compassionately, we see the wrinkles on our skin don’t merely tell of our age, but rather are marks of the lives we’ve lived. It all tells of a story. The paths we’ve walked, the jobs we’ve held, the loves we’ve lost and blessings we embraced.
I hope the next time you look in the mirror, you don’t cringe at the age shining back by way of scars and wrinkles, but rather see a beautiful story to be shared from your life. My hope is that the story doesn’t stay bottled up in those lines and scars that we try so hard to hide with make up, but that we would find an ear to listen and you would take the risk to open up.
I was reminded of our farms story in these grape vines. I was reminded of the evolution of my own story where wrinkles and hairs of gray now compliment the many scars I carry.
We all have a story to share. Look in the mirror and I hope you can see yours shining back…and if you do, what are the lessons and laughter to be shared…what is your story to tell?
