Sour Grapes, Dried Grapes, Pruned Grapes

As interesting as watching the lush fruit of the season being harvested for wine was discovering the fate of all the other grapes. Whether at the winery with my friend Colleen or in my walks, the seasons of the vines and the changes that were rendered in the course of the year unfolded with great meaning of metaphor and life within my year here in this beautiful wine region of Italy.

First of all it was in the spring when many of the branches in full bloom, wanting to bear fruit, were pruned away. It seemed like such a waste of potential fruit to see so many cut to very specific dimensions. It was a witnessing to Jesus’ parable of the vines, as the remaining fruit would all develop at the bottom of the vines, seemingly resting with the leaves above them doing the hard work of photosynthesis. It took time, labor and knowledge to prune the branches for the optimal well being of both fruit and plant. During the course of the Summer there would be a constant slow observation and tending process that would ensure the best conditions for the grapes, and waiting for the precise moment when the fruit would be ready for harvest, ever mindful of weather conditions for the fateful day of picking. In our lives we often get to a place where we can be overwhelmed: by our mistakes, our challenges, our sins or even too much of a good thing, and a time for pruning and paring back helps us to focus our efforts to produce the best in our lives in grace. For in pruning we ensure a better future, for the time of harvest.

Once the day came for harvest there was still no guarantee that all would make the grade for wine. Much of the fruit would be cut away, too dry for wine. My friends in the village, and the women at the winery said they would often eat the most sun dried of these, the raisins, as snack in this season. Others, not dried enough for raisins, not perfect enough for wine would become fertilizer, cut and dropped to the ground in the harvest process. Wine ready, sun dried, or other, all were used to a good purpose, a reminder that the Fruits of the Spirit as defined by the apostle Paul are different, but all useful. In due season we can all rest assured that as the grapes we all have purpose, we all have a place in God’s world.

One day on a long walk I came across a vineyard that had been left to grow wild, left without care. It was hard to find the grapes on these vines, for without pruning they had no pattern for growth, and they did not produce much fruit. When I did try the fruit it was sour, not even close in flavor to the grapes of the tended vineyard. I was a bit shocked, sure there are parables of wild grapes, sour grapes, but to see the stark difference surprised me. It was edible evidence of the need for care and tending.

In our lives we all need relationships, cooperation, but even more a guiding hand, the guiding hand of our triune God, who offers a loving care. In order for us to live to our fullest we must have a sense of order as in the pruning, a sense of patience for the harvest, a sense of our own created value to be the best we have been created to be and a knowing that the master gardener, the master vintner is always looking out for our best. How do you, through the leading of the Holy Spirit allow others and yourself to care for you, to reach your fullest? How do you, through the leading of the Holy Spirit help others through your caring acts?

In the Vineyard - pt. 1 - Harvest Time

We are in the heart of grape harvesting season here in Umbria. Last week I had the pleasure of going to Monte Vibiano Vecchio for the first harvest of some of their finest grapes on their ancient farm. We spent a morning relaxing while watching the harvesters at their work. For us it was truly beautiful and calm, for them it was a fast paced venture where we witnessed only one 5 minute break as they worked to finish rapidly in the cool of the morning before the day grew hot and the fruit to warm to pick.

Although the workers worked quickly, they moved so efficiently and smoothly that no movement was wasted. In capturing photos I was surprised at the speed they were moving from row to row. This is not at first sight an easy feat, because they must determine which of the grapes are good for harvesting and which will be cut to drop to the ground to become fertilizer. It was astonishing to me how many were left on the ground, as well as how many tractor wagons were full of grapes, there simply was an abundance.

At first sight it didn’t seem like there were so many grapes because the vines have been carefully groomed leaving only the grapes to mature on the lowest branches, the upper branches and leaves left bare to drink in the sun and do the work of photosynthesis while the grapes mature in warmth, but not extreme heat. The grapes that matured among the most beautiful of autumn colored leaves were often those that weren’t used if they had absorbed too much sun, and were either full on raisins or certainly dry. These were unusable for the delicious wine that would be produced from this day’s harvest.

This all reminded me of Aesop’s fable of the “Fox and the Grapes,” wherein the fox sees beautiful grapes hanging from high branches and is unable to reach them, and as he turns to walk away from those now despised grapes declare that “they are sure to be bitter.” In truth the best metaphors often come from nature, and those grapes probably would have been bitter. So in order to harvest the best grapes, they must be picked carefully, as well as nourished throughout their lives to be their best. When they are out of reach, they are not their best.

The next phase of the harvest was the sorting and preparing of the grapes to be aged to perfection. With modern machinery and a team of men the grapes had their stems removed and were transported from the hopper to the first tanks for the aging process. All very sanitary, all very controlled and at Monte Vibiano Vecchio, all very green and earth friendly at this carbon neutral facility. With great care for the earth, in the care of their harvest, they produce their wines.

What seemed like a short time, just one morning, was a patient and carefully wrought process in order to produce the very best. When reflecting on life’s journey, on scripture, on the essence of breathing the spirit (the word for spirit and breath in Hebrew is the same) being able to work steadily, patiently and carefully is the essence of quality. To live and sort out the best from the sour, to be efficient while not rushing get us through life with more grace and mercy. It is the heart of intentional living. Jesus lived only 33 brief years, and accomplished the greatest work of all. In his life he taught, shared time with friends, and offered the greatest gift of all. What an amazingly good work, we can never do so much, but we can achieve a good life’s work and grace through the Holy Spirit that is within Jesus, God and us. How do you move through life? Efficiently, hurriedly, slowly, or other? Where do you find grace in your work? Where do you find quality in your work?

Oh, Baby, Baby

One of the greatest gifts in life is new life, a baby. My friends Diana and Florin just welcomed their first little gem into the world, Maria. They had wanted a child for a long time, but had to wait 6 longs year for the arrival of their new love. When I asked how he felt it was a mixture of happiness, joy, but mostly contentment. Here in Italy contentment is optimal, to be content is the best thing. I really like how this sounds, it is tamer than happy, but more long-term encompassing.

To produce a child in a world full of problems and be content is to reflect the essence of hope. Today’s world has so many highs and lows, from tragedy to outright giddiness that it seems a rather natural response that so many people are suffering from depression. Rather than expecting to always be happy or joyous, there is a gift in being content with new life before us, content with living out the best we can, content to share our lives with new lives each day. It is the key to calmness and peace.
Tragedy will happen, is happening now for everyone; economic struggles, drought, and violence seem to head up our news sources. Yet you look into the face of a newborn child, see the love reflected in a mother’s eyes, hear the words of contentment and wonder from a devoted father and you experience hope.

A magical thing happens when babies are walked on the streets every day here in Piegaro, in they are greeted by everyone who they pass. Men and women, even children stop to admire and say sweet words to the babes in their strollers. For all people, of all generations this is something to stop and take notice of, this wonderful gift of a child, a gift of hope. If I am sitting working outside my home, it is a gift to me that my friends stop for me to take a break and admire sweet Maria, to talk a bit, to let them talk in Romanian to one another, but all of us sitting together in awe and contentment for this beautiful new life.

My friends, like me, are immigrants here, not native Italians. Yet the gift of sharing their baby with everyone is a gift to us all. It is yet one more thing that united us all. It is the sign of hope and assurance that our loving God loves each and everyone of us, the diversity of people, in this little town, in our world. There is room for hope, there is room for contentment, there is room for love in the face of a newborn child.

How do you experience the appearance of new life?
How do you welcome the stranger, even the new child in your midst?
How do you experience contentment?

A Little Exercise

When my friend Maria asked where I would be going this morning I told her a walk to the statue of Padre Pio, a favorite saint in the region. I then added that I needed the exercise and the sun. However, for the most of my life I have engaged in daily walks for more than fresh air, cardiac health and muscle development. It is also my greatest time for contemplative prayer. To have as a destination Padre Pio was even more significant.

In learning about Padre Pio I knew he was not an instant favorite choice for sainthood, and many people challenged his candidacy. Yet, it seemed that what questioned was all the ways he varied from the “normal” person, Christian, Catholic. And variance from normal is exactly what distinguishes the named saints, they are extraordinary. And even a bit strange to some, one to be questioned. Exactly the kind of person to pray to in request for mediation when one feels a bit out of sorts. He worked with the poor, was a spiritual director, and was prone to seeing and experiencing the miracles of God…someone I want to be more like “when I grow up.” In times of discernment it is nice to pay him a visit.

So a walk up the mountain to visit Padre Pio and enjoy the beauty of God’s world while walking and praying is just a bit of heaven to me. Just as when I was in Seattle and walking Green Lake at dawn in any season. It is a total mind-body-soul experience. At mid-point in my walk one reflection was that I did not tell Maria that prayer is the main reason I walk, and that was neglectful on my part. When I arrived in town I saw my friend Teresina who also asked what I had been up to and I was sure to point out walking, PRAYING, and we both gave thanks to God for the place and beauty of Piegaro and our lives here.

Sharing the total experience of life always seems to key to exercise to me, how to incorporate mind, but more importantly spirit into physical activity. Today I also had the opportunity to swim at my friend Colleen’s, along with my friend Valentina. Now Valentina likes to sunbathe, and putz around in the water, but the only swimming she knows is how to doggy paddle. For years I have said that I swim like a cat, and my son describes my repeated laps as “mom trying to escape Alcatraz,” and really for years my swimming has been more about function than form. So it surprised me when Valentina asked me to show her how to swim, and for the past 3 days swimming together she has been learning rapidly.

As I slowly swam back and forth, very slowly because Valentina was watching carefully to copy, I reflected that the instructions for swimming I had learned from others while in my childhood that were universal truths. In order to stay afloat you need to stay calm, the more you struggle, the faster you sink. What a great metaphor for all of life, the need for tranquility of mind-body-soul IS essential, yet we are so often encouraged to race through life to “get ahead” all the while missing so much. Taking time to savor the moments, to refresh our bodies, indeed does feel our souls. As I reflected on my expertise of swimming, I realized how much my style and form and improved when I slowed down, how much easier it was to float and watch the sparrows flying overhead. How much every aspect of time in the pool improved. What was essential to this was having another person there to engage with, to talk with, to play with, and to share with. Someone to exchange questions, responses and stories, giving us both an opportunity to grow.

In being asked to teach, I was given the opportunity to learn. In the questions of others, there were answers for me. In asking Valentina questions I grew in awareness of how similar our lives are. In having the time to reflect while engaged in physical activity my soul had space to breathe easier and relax to open sweetly. What kind of activities help you to relax? How do you make time for wholeness of mind-body-spirit/soul? What are the questions that spur deeper reflection for your life?