Pruning Time

Managers all over probably love the first part of today's Gospel reading.

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.” - John 15:1,6-16

If you do not follow my ways, you are going to get cut.

That is the message, right?

Almost.  Jesus starts there, but says more than that.  If my words abide in you, he says, then whatever you ask for will be done for you.

How many managers in businesses would say that?

There is more than a degree of trust in those words.  I trust you to ask for the right things because you believe what I believe.  We have the same vision.

What it all boils down to is something we don't talk about in business, love.

In the corporate environment, love is not the goal, especially when it comes to building a team and managing employees.  But isn't love at the heart of everything we do?

Maybe we know it as compassion or empathy, or something else altogether, but we make our decisions based in part on love.

It may often get overruled.

Other emotions rush in to block its effect or influence.

Fear is one of those love blockers.  If I fear I will lose my job if I do something or fail to do it, I will make my decision accordingly.

So, let's get back to pruning the vine.

When is it right to cut off the branch and when should we give it more time?

Jesus offered parables for both scenarios, so there probably isn't one right answer.

And that's the message, I think.  

If the person is truly following the way, there is hope for the future, and the branch continues to live.

It is only when the person is not onboard, working against the goal or vision, that it is time to prune.

So, it isn't just about performance, is it?

That's good to know, since most of us are poor performers when it comes to our faith.  Luckily, Jesus doesn't mind.

More to come...