I’m changing — and that is a gross understatement. These were the words that I used to describe this season in my life to a good friend the other day. I have been in a heightened state of awareness of this, particularly over the past couple of weeks. Perhaps this post will (somewhat) explain my absence from my blog. I have been in a hibernation of sorts – a reflective period, if you will. One in which I am also keenly aware of the signs of this season, because I’ve been here before. That sign is called, pruning.

The word tells us in the book of John that those who bear good fruit would experience this pruning process in order that they would continue to grow. It also informs us that this cutting – removing of undesired twigs, roots, or branches – would be done for all. However, there is a distinct difference between the pruning of one who bears good fruit and the cutting of one who doesn’t. Let’s take a closer look at the text:

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (KJV John 15:2)

For the branch that does not bear fruit the word “airei” is used.

Airei (142): to take away, remove, and cut off (www.biblehub.com)

In this sense, the nuance is that of the useless (unprofitable) branches that are attached being separated completely from those that are – for the benefit of the continued growth of the latter. The word used to describe the “purging” (pruning) of one that actually does bear fruit has quite a different meaning. The word is “kathairei.”

Kathairei (2508): To cleanse or purify (www.bibehub.com)

The interesting thing to note here is that the one that needs to be purified is the one who has been the most useful – the one who has gone through the painstaking challenge of personal growth to the point where others could glean something spiritually nutritious – something healthy for their soul. However, this process also often puts one in close proximity with twigs, roots, or branches – the behaviors, mindsets, and spiritually unproductive people — that can sap the life out of the other, impede its growth; and where fruit is being born, cross pollination can occur. When that happens we end up with a hybrid – something unnatural to what the Creator intended. The branches that the word is referring to is a euphemism for people. With this in mind, there are two definitions for hybrid that I’d like you to take note of:

the offspring of two animals or plants of different breeds,varieties, species, or genera, especially as produced through human manipulation for specific genetic characteristics (www.dictionary.com)

“a person or group of persons produced by the interaction or crossbreeding of two unlike cultures, traditions, etc.” (www.dictionary.com)

In the natural, we do not have to do anything to grow. As it pertains to the spirit, however, we must acknowledge what season we are in and will to not resist the changes that are designed to go with it. I will to grow, and I therefore acknowledge and submit to this pruning process. In my life on-line that has meant unsubscribing from those that no longer resonate with me spiritually. Off-line is has meant creating (and maintaining) some boundaries with family and friends that don’t share my journey and are not able (or willing) to support it. It has required shedding old paradigms as set forth by religious dogma in favor of that which is true innately. I also understand, by experience, that this season is most often a solitary one. As a result, there won’t be any shared genetic characteristics (of mind, e.g. a hive mind) or (unintentional) crossbreeding which creates impurities (as set forth by religion and traditions of men) – I will remain at one mind with that which the Creator has divinely apportioned for me. I will continue to grow. Could you be in a growing season as well?