THE PEAR TREE

We have, or should I say had, a Pear Tree in our garden. We had it until yesterday when it was cut down. This year it had produced an amazing crop of pears but it had grown out of hand, all it's branches spreading wildly in different directions. I guess that it hadn't been looked after too well during its life and had been allowed to just grow without any restraint, control or pruning.

We had already picked quite a large quantity of pears but the best ones seemed to be right at the top of the tree, out of reach and in danger of being left hanging, going bad and eventually falling off. Why are the best ones always out of reach? Well they weren't out of reach this year for as the tree fell, so did the pears and we walked away with many big, juicy pears - lovely. But of course, it won't be producing any more pears. It was a drastic step to get them and now that's it. No more.

If only the tree had been looked after better and each year the non-producing branches had been cut off to encourage the right growth in the right direction and the best branches had been pruned. Perhaps it would have survived the saw and we could have enjoyed more fruit for many years. But it hadn't been cared for and was simply allowed to spread out leaving the fruit out of reach.

The Plum Tree at the bottom of the garden suffered the same fate yesterday as well. Once I've got a saw in my hand, watch out! It too had not be looked after and the best fruit was now out of reach.

It seemed a drastic measure but that is the consequence of not caring enough each year to take the tough decision of cutting and pruning. Pruning even the best producing branches will lead to more fruit, it's just having the courage to do it so that the best fruit is not out of reach any more.

Jesus said, 'He (the Father) 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.' (John 15:2)

Is it simply having the courage to let the Gardener do it? When the promise is even more fruit then it has to be worth the cut. Otherwise the best fruit we can produce may stay out of reach and it's no use to anybody there. It is the challenge of the good over the best, settling for 'doing well' or allowing God to shape you for His purposes. It would be such a shame if the fruit we can produce remained out of reach.