The Great Vine

Lately, I’ve been reflecting deeply on my personal and professional journey—how I’ve evolved and matured in ways that feel remarkable to me. This transformation is akin to the process of pruning.

What is the pruning process?

One day, I watched my husband outside, pruning our bushes and trees. Curious, I asked why he was cutting so much from them. His response was simple: “I need to do this so new growth can flourish.” That idea lingered with me—pruning to encourage growth.

Recently, I was at brunch with a dear friend who suggested I reconsider using the word “pause” to describe my time in 2023. She pointed out that “pause” isn’t accurate because I was anything but idle. She was right. While I didn’t dive back into corporate America or take on a new C-suite role, I was engaged in countless activities that filled my life with joy, peace, and love.

What I thought was a “pause” was, in reality, a season of pruning.

Pruning for Growth

My pastor at Christ Church once shared, “God loves you, so He prunes you to make you better. It doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong; it’s about removing what’s dead or no longer serves you, so you can grow and flourish.”

In our lives, if we’re open to it, pruning is necessary to thrive. This might involve:

• Your finances
• Your friendships
• Your career
• Your marriage
• Your family
• Your ___________

I’ve noticed certain people have been “pruned” from my life so subtly that I hardly noticed. My perspective on my professional career has been “pruned.” My marriage has been “pruned.” And I have anchored my life in God, trusting in His pruning process:

“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” —John 15:2

The Difference Between Cutting and Pruning

• Cutting: Ends growth.
• Pruning: Promotes growth.
• Cutting: Hinders recovery.
• Pruning: Supports healing.
• Cutting: Randomly removes.
• Pruning: Intentionally shapes.

The Great Vine

I recently learned about the Great Vine, one of the most famous grapevines in the world, located at Hampton Court Palace in England.

The Great Vine was planted in 1768 by Lancelot “Capability” Brown, a renowned landscape architect and gardener to King George III. It’s a Vitis vinifera ‘Schiava Grossa,’ also known as Black Hamburg, a variety of grape popular in Europe at the time.

Despite being over 250 years old, the Great Vine continues to thrive, with roots stretching deep into the soil, allowing it to access the water and nutrients that support its enormous size. Today, it covers an area of about 4,000 square feet.

The Great Vine symbolizes endurance and historical continuity, having survived the reigns of multiple British monarchs and numerous historical events.

Guiding Principles and Fruit of the Spirit

As many of you know, I live by certain guiding principles—characteristics that shape my life. I once wrote a newsletter about it. Now, I walk in the fruit of the Spirit, and these traits guide me:

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Patience
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-control

At the same brunch, I told my friend, “I want to be joy” in response to her observation that I’m different from the person she saw across the table at Zero Bond last year. She reminded me of a conversation where I spoke about “choosing joy,” even though she could tell I wasn’t joyful. I was striving for it, even if it felt distant then. As my husband often says, “Talk is cheap; action is what matters.” To that, I can only say, “Yes and Amen.”

A Question to Ponder

So, my Muse, I always like to leave you with a question to reflect on this Monday morning:

Are you cutting or pruning in your life?

Go forth my Muse and be the way. I am rooting for you, always.

With gratitude,

Amani D.

Find me at The NORTH by Female Founder Collective