Just a Drop in a Waterfall

 

The Vine’s Eye View of the Pruning Shears

A vision from the Lord as received by Claire Lopeman.

    I saw myself from the very beginning of my life. I was once just a tiny seed in the Gardener’s hand, full of life and expectations but I had not yet sprouted. I waited expectantly as He carried me into his garden. I just knew that this was my day! 

    I was going to get my chance out there in the world. I had been encased in this tiny shell for months and months and it was very dark and boring in there. I could see glimpses of light glittering in through the Gardener’s fingers as he carried me out to the garden. I had never seen anything, so you can just imagine what an exciting experience this was for me. An adventure, for sure. I thought, I love the light, and I do not have to be in the dark anymore. Boy, was I in for a surprise?

I Was Planted - The first thing the Gardener did was dig a tiny hole in the ground and drop me in it. Then, he buried me under the dirt. I remember trying to tell Him that this was not what I had in mind, but He did not pay any attention to my tiny squeaks. Now it was once again very dark. I was so disappointed. Here I thought that I was getting into the sunlight and instead it was darker than I had ever known down in that hole.

A Tiny Voice Spoke to Me - I heard the rumbling of the Gardener’s footsteps as he walked away from the garden. Do not leave me here all alone, I yelled. But I just know he did not hear me. Then there was a long silence. And then I heard a tiny voice inside me say, “Trust Me.” So, I tried to relax. I did not know much about trusting, but since I was stuck down in that hole, I decided to try. At least, I thought, it’s nice and warm and dry down here.

The Rain Came - I heard a pattering sound. Oh no, rain! I was so tightly packed in the dirt that I could not move. Soon I was dripping wet and muddy. This is not at all what I expected out of life. Off and on it rained for days. I just hated being wet and muddy.

I Began to Sprout - I noticed something strange happening to my shell. It had always been hard, but now it was soft and had begun to crack and swell and. Some of the rainwater seeped inside. Now I was really wet. Suddenly, I felt a great surge of life from my very innermost being. I had begun to SPROUT! Oh no! I had no idea what was in store for me. Life as I knew it took on new meaning. I forgot all about being in a dark damp hole.

I stretched and Pushed Upward - I spent most of my time stretching and pushing upward. I remembered the glimpse of light that I caught during my trip to the garden. I just had to see that light again! So, I stretched and stretched. It was so dark and muddy down under the ground, that I could not see what was really happening to me. I could tell, though, that I was getting bigger and bigger! One morning, about 3 days after the Gardener planted me, I saw a tiny speck of light. I had finally made it to the TOP! Now I was excited. I pushed and pushed and soon my whole seed head was above the ground. Then my shell fell off. I thought for a moment that I was a goner for sure. I saw part of me laying on the ground. It was discouraging.

I Noticed my Beautiful Green Leaves. Suddenly I noticed my stem and beautiful green leaves. I was beautiful and fresh. It felt so good to be alive! I took a good look at myself. Part of me was still underground. I found out that those were roots and that they were there holding me in place even though I could not see them. I could feel my roots pushing deeper and deeper around rocks and through the dirt. When I was thirsty my roots would send up a drink.

The Sunlight Was Refreshing - The warm sunlight felt so refreshing on my buds that were bursting out all over me. I thought, this must be what heaven is like. I purposed in my heart to become the lushest, biggest, and most gorgeous vine that had ever grown in the garden. I grew and grew! I was so proud of myself. I got so big that some of the tiny plants growing next to me were getting crowded out. I just told them to make room for me, because I was going to get even bigger. I had a plan and just knew the Gardener was going to love it! I would get so big that He would not need any other plants in this garden. I would just fill up the whole space for Him.

The Gardner’s Plan - I planned to produce so much fruit that He would be very proud of me. I did not know about the Gardener’s plans though. I guess looking back on it, He did have a different perspective of the garden than I was able to see from my spot. One beautiful day as I was growing and stretching out happily all over my neighboring plants, I saw the Gardener coming with a big black tool in his hands. Then, eek! He used it to cut off one of my branches. OUCH! That hurt. I was horrified. Fear welled up in me from my roots. I began to tremble inside. He’s going to CHOP ME DOWN!

The Gardner Was Trying to Kill Me - He must HATE me, I thought. I was so afraid. CHOP! OUCH! There went another branch. I just knew that this was the END for me and that I was going to die right then and there. I looked up sadly at the Gardener. He was smiling though and did not look like he had killing on his mind. He would just chop off a branch and step back and look at me and then go over to the other side and chop again.

I Almost Died of Fright - The only thing that kept me from dying of fright was the Gardener's countenance. He looked like He loved me. I was so puzzled. I watched my plans to be the biggest and best plant in the garden just evaporate right then and there. As he chopped, my plans were being destroyed. I was trying so hard to please the Gardener by growing so fast. When the Gardener finished chopping, He stood back and looked at me and smiled. I did not feel so good. The tips of my branches were raw and exposed and sore. I had no grid for this kind of treatment. But a tiny voice inside me said once again, “Trust Me.”

The Tiny Voice Spoke Again - It was the same tiny voice that I had heard when I was buried in that awful hole. I was miserable for days after that pruning session. But one morning when I woke up, I noticed brand buds all over me. I felt a new surge of life rising from my roots. A new joy welled up inside of me. I seemed to have more energy than ever before. I learned later that was because my root system was used to feeding all those extra branches than were now gone. The root system still was sending up just as much nourishment as before, but now the food was being used to fill out the branches that remained.

I Saw Myself in a Mirror - I looked at myself in a mirror and noticed that I had such a fine shape. Before I was so big and gangly. Now my shape was very becoming. As I looked in the mirror, I noticed tiny flowers and buds all over me. How beautiful I was. I began to realize why the Gardener had chopped me so drastically. He did it so that my branches would produce these beautiful flowers! I started smelling wonderful too. What a fragrance I put out. Now I was proud of myself. Look at me, I told the other plant

I Was Arrogant - I was kind of arrogant, because I thought of myself as much more beautiful than the other plants. Then one by one, my flowers began to wilt and dry up. I was a mess. I did not want to be seen by anyone. I thought, I am so ugly and wrinkled now, no one will enjoy me ever again. Once again, I heard the tiny voice inside me say “Trust Me.”

Now, I Was Ready for Any Surprise - By now I was ready for any surprise, so I settled down and waited for whatever was coming next with eager anticipation. In a few weeks, I noticed that my branches were getting very heavy. I just thought it was because I was getting old and worn out. One day the Gardener came out to look at me with an extra big smile on his face. He exclaimed, “Wow, Look at all that fruit.” So now I knew that the weight that was on my branches was fruit. I could not imagine why this heavy stuff pleased the gardener so much. I had rather enjoyed holding it up. By the time He picked it all, I was bare and very tired. But it was such a satisfying feeling to me to know that I had borne much fruit according to the Gardener’s plan for me. I heard a pattering sound. Oh no, rain! I was so tightly packed in the dirt that I could not move. Soon I was dripping wet and muddy. This is not at all what I expected out of life. Off and on it rained for days. I just hated being wet and muddy.

I Began to Sprout - I noticed something strange happening to my shell. It had always been hard, but now it was soft and had begun to crack and swell and. Some of the rainwater seeped inside. Now I was really wet. Suddenly, I felt a great surge of life from my very innermost being. I had begun to SPROUT! Oh no! I had no idea what was in store for me. Life as I knew it took on new meaning. I forgot all about being in a dark damp hole.

I stretched and Pushed Upward - I spent most of my time stretching and pushing upward. I remembered the glimpse of light that I caught during my trip to the garden. I just had to see that light again! So, I stretched and stretched. It was so dark and muddy down under the ground, that I could not see what was really happening to me. I could tell, though, that I was getting bigger and bigger! One morning, about 3 days after the Gardener planted me, I saw a tiny speck of light. I had finally made it to the TOP! Now I was excited. I pushed and pushed and soon my whole seed head was above the ground. Then my shell fell off. I thought for a moment that I was a goner for sure. I saw part of me laying on the ground. It was discouraging.

I Noticed my Beautiful Green Leaves -  I noticed my stem and beautiful green leaves. I was beautiful and fresh. It felt so good to be alive! I took a good look at myself. Part of me was still underground. I found out that those were roots and that they were there holding me in place even though I could not see them. I could feel my roots pushing deeper and deeper around rocks and through the dirt. When I was thirsty my roots would send up a drink.

The Sunlight Was Refreshing - The warm sunlight felt so refreshing on my buds that were bursting out all over me. I thought, this must be what heaven is like. I purposed in my heart to become the lushest, biggest, and most gorgeous vine that had ever grown in the garden. I grew and grew! I was so proud of myself. I got so big that some of the tiny plants growing next to me were getting crowded out. I just told them to make room for me, because I was going to get even bigger. I had a plan and just knew the Gardener was going to love it! I would get so big that He would not need any other plants in this garden. I would just fill up the whole space for Him.

The Gardner’s Plan - I planned to produce so much fruit that He would be very proud of me. I did not know about the Gardener’s plans though. I guess looking back on it, He did have a different perspective of the garden than I was able to see from my spot. One beautiful day as I was growing and stretching out happily all over my neighboring plants, I saw the Gardener coming with a big black tool in his hands. Then, eek! He used it to cut off one of my branches. OUCH! That hurt. I was horrified. Fear welled up in me from my roots. I began to tremble inside. He’s going to CHOP ME DOWN!

The Gardner Was Trying to Kill Me - He must HATE me, I thought. I was so afraid. CHOP! OUCH! There went another branch. I just knew that this was the END for me and that I was going to die right then and there. I looked up sadly at the Gardener. He was smiling though and did not look like he had killing on his mind. He would just chop off a branch and step back and look at me and then go over to the other side and chop again.

I Almost Died of Fright - The only thing that kept me from dying of fright was the Gardener's countenance. He looked like He loved me. I was so puzzled. I watched my plans to be the biggest and best plant in the garden just evaporate right then and there. As he chopped, my plans were being destroyed. I was trying so hard to please the Gardener by growing so fast. When the Gardener finished chopping, He stood back and looked at me and smiled. I did not feel so good. The tips of my branches were raw and exposed and sore. I had no grid for this kind of treatment. But a tiny voice inside me said once again, “Trust Me.”

The Tiny Voice Spoke Again - It was the same tiny voice that I had heard when I was buried in that awful hole. I was miserable for days after that pruning session. But one morning when I woke up, I noticed brand buds all over me. I felt a new surge of life rising from my roots. A new joy welled up inside of me. I seemed to have more energy than ever before. I learned later that was because my root system was used to feeding all those extra branches than were now gone. The root system still was sending up just as much nourishment as before, but now the food was being used to fill out the branches that remained.

I Saw Myself in a Mirror - I looked at myself in a mirror and noticed that I had such a fine shape. Before I was so big and gangly. Now my shape was very becoming. As I looked in the mirror, I noticed tiny flowers and buds all over me. How beautiful I was. I began to realize why the Gardener had chopped me so drastically. He did it so that my branches would produce these beautiful flowers! I started smelling wonderful too. What a fragrance I put out. Now I was proud of myself. Look at me, I told the other plant

I Was Arrogant - I was kind of arrogant, because I thought of myself as much more beautiful than the other plants. Then one by one, my flowers began to wilt and dry up. I was a mess. I did not want to be seen by anyone. I thought, I am so ugly and wrinkled now, no one will enjoy me ever again. Once again, I heard the tiny voice inside me say “Trust Me.”

Now, I Was Ready for Any Surprise - By now I was ready for any surprise, so I settled down and waited for whatever was coming next with eager anticipation. In a few weeks, I noticed that my branches were getting very heavy. I just thought it was because I was getting old and worn out. One day the Gardener came out to look at me with an extra big smile on his face. He exclaimed, “Wow, Look at all that fruit.” So now I knew that the weight that was on my branches was fruit. I could not imagine why this heavy stuff pleased the gardener so much. I had rather enjoyed holding it up. By the time He picked it all, I was bare and very tired. But it was such a satisfying feeling to me to know that I had borne much fruit according to the Gardener’s plan for me.