How a wild grapevine convinced me I'll never retire

In the long rays of Virginia autumn sunlight on a weekend afternoon straddling September and October, the muscadine vines on the edge of the forest in our yard became a canvas for profound reflection. That shouldn’t have surprised me.? For Christians, every corner of nature echoes God's voice, speaking parables of life, faith, and purpose. The task of picking muscadine grapes unveiled a plethora of lessons rooted deeply in Christian teachings.

1.???? End-of-Season Blessings and the Promise of the Harvest

I had picked muscadines and made jelly earlier in the summer, but that harvest was meager compared to this one.? As the wild forest vines bore a rich yield at the end of the season, I couldn’t help but think of Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Just as the vines, after months of growth, bring forth a harvest at season’s end, so too does a life lived in faith and diligence. The Christian journey isn’t always easy; it is filled with seasons of wandering, seasons of trial, and seasons of growth. Yet, just as the vine doesn't waver but patiently awaits its time to produce, we too are reminded to persevere, for our harvest time will come. The vines stand as a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling promises.

In fact, it was almost as if the vines knew that the days were numbered.? While it’s getting harder and harder these days to accurately predict the weather and the change of seasons, clearly we’re nearing the autumn turn.? There’s a quality in the air that lets us know that the long, easy days of summer are at an end.? Soon the leaves will burst out in brilliant color in one last gasp of glory before falling to the forest floor to decompose and become the next generation’s fertile soil.? And the first frost will shock the vines into brittle dormancy, sapping them of all life producing energy.? But in this last push before giving up, the wild forest vines seemed to pour everything they had into an explosion of fruit.

None of us knows how our days are numbered.? But for me, autumn is here, and winter can't be far.? I can hope and pray for a length of days equal to my father’s, but even so I know there are fewer days ahead than behind.? May I, like these vines, press on to produce a bountiful harvest of fruit in this season of life.? May those who benefit from my fruit – my children and grandchildren, my co-workers and friends -- find good reason to come once again to my branches and discover what God is producing through me.

2.???? Hidden Fruits and the Mysteries of Faith

Especially since it is a parasitic vine intertwined with other trees and bushes, many fruits of the muscadine vine remain obscured, only to be discovered when one ventures behind the facade and into the forest and sees from a different perspective. Many of the fullest and most vibrant clusters could only be seen from the forest side of the vine instead of the lawn side.? This mirrors both the Christian understanding of God's ways being beyond human comprehension and the biblical principal that the value of the ?fruit we bear isn’t based on its visibility or public display. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Just as the hidden grapes await the discerning harvester, God's truths often require seekers to go beyond the surface, to seek earnestly, and to view life from His perspective. These hidden treasures remind us of the importance of seeking God wholeheartedly and the joys of discovering the depths of His love and wisdom.

3.???? Damaged Fruits and the Grace of Redemption

Among the clusters of luscious grapes were those that bore the scars of disease or adverse weather. Yet the vine did not abandon them, nor was it discouraged by them. It continued to nurture, to sustain, and to produce. This mirrors the narrative of redemption in found in our faith. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Yet, the following verse offers hope, proclaiming the grace given through Christ. God, in His boundless love, does not give up on humanity despite our flaws. The blighted grapes serve as a powerful metaphor for God’s unconditional love and His desire to redeem, heal, and restore. Just as the vine continues its purpose despite the imperfections in some of its fruits, God's love remains steadfast, always seeking to bring forth the best in each of us.

As I look back over my life, it’s tempting sometimes to focus on the fruits I’ve produced that are stunted, misshapen, blighted, unripened.? This day in the forest’s edge among the wild muscadine vines I was reminded – convicted even – that my past fruit, whether good or bad, gives no excuse or reason for me to do anything other than what I was created to do . . . bear fruit now and until my season is complete.? I can’t be discouraged or distracted.? There is purpose in fruit-bearing.

4.???? Joy in Sharing and the Heart of Christian Fellowship

The act of harvesting, while deeply fulfilling, also offers a lesson on the essence of Christian love and community. Acts 20:35 recalls the words of Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The true joy of the muscadine harvest is not in mere consumption, but in the sharing of the bounty. This mirrors the Christian calling to love one's neighbor, to share blessings, and to live in communion with one another. As the fruits of our labors are passed among friends, families, and communities, it is reminiscent of the early Christian church in Acts, where believers shared everything they had. The vine becomes not just a place of harvest but a place of fellowship, echoing the divine command to love and share.

I’ll make some of the best jelly you could imagine from these wild grapes.? But the irony is that my enjoyment won’t come from eating it.? In addition to the natural sugars already in the muscadines, making jelly requires a significant amount of granulated sugar.? And my doctor has determined that I’ve already had my lifelong allotment of sugar.? His ban for me has been dutifully enforced by my wife and children, and even my grandkids!? But the joy isn’t in consuming our fruit – it’s in sharing our fruit. When I hear a friend tell how much they enjoyed that jelly . . . or especially when one of the grandkids asks for “Popo’s special jelly” on their breakfast biscuit, that’s all the reward I need.

Isn’t it amazing how a weekend afternoon spent on the edge of the Virginia forest among the wild muscadine vines can be transformed into a spiritual pilgrimage. Every cluster of grapes, every hidden fruit, and every moment of sharing resonates with the teachings of Christ. Nature, in its simplicity, echoes profound spiritual truths, reminding all of us of God's love, the mysteries of faith, the promise of redemption, and the joy of community. Such moments, where the tangible meets the spiritual, serve as beautiful reminders of God's presence in every aspect of life and His continuous call to live in love, faith, and hope.? And for us to not give up in our autumn season . . . there is still so much fruit to be produced.