“For without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, New King James Version).

I walk by the small flowering peach tree every morning. Today a split branch barely clings to the trunk by splinters and bark. Several weeks ago a thin line in the bark was showing, but it didn’t appear that such a small crack would be a problem. One morning the little neighbor boy ran, jumped, and grabbed for an impulsive swing on the weakened branch. I thought about the crack in the branch, but I didn’t try to stop him. He isn’t heavy enough to do much damage and his little boy joy is such fun to watch.

Gradual Destruction

Another day the dark clouds of summer exploded with violent winds and rain. The wind swept across our yard and across the country fields, leaving small branches and debris in its path. As we cleared the aftermath of the storm, the damaged strip in the tree looked wider, but the branch still held to the trunk.

Today, I speculate about what could be done to keep the branch in place. If it breaks free, it will leave an ugly mark. Not only will there be a scar on the tree, but the branch will be useless. Its leaves will wither and the fruit will die. The broken branch will become nothing but firewood.

The circumstances surrounding this tree remind me of Jesus’ words: “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned” (John 15:5, 6, New Living Translation).

Musing on this Scripture reminds me of our congregation. The same people worship together every Sunday. We serve together on the same committees. We attend Bible studies and prayer meeting together during the week—all of us strong branches clinging to the same vine. And yet some of the branches are silently cracking.

I noticed a thin crack the first Sunday Beth and her family missed worship. I telephoned them, but then they missed two in a row. I got busy, so I wrote a note, but forgot to follow up with a phone call. Of course I felt concern, but Beth is a strong branch and her family usually follows her leading. I ignored the crack. Soon they stopped attending Bible study; they said they didn’t have time. The split began to widen and now they have completely broken away from the congregation. The congregation lost a strong branch because we ignored the tiny crack in the branch until it split and fell away from the vine.

Repairing the Damage

We must stay on the watch. The vine needs frequent inspection. Small, seemingly minor happenings—hurt feelings, overwork, physical problems, family problems—can cause a hidden hairline fracture. Many times we aren’t aware there is a problem. We hear a word of discouragement or notice a frown of unhappiness but it soon passes, and we go on. We tell ourselves everyone has problems. It will pass.

The first time we notice a crack in someone’s life is the time to apply preventive measures. Sometimes a word of encouragement, a pat on the back, a cup of coffee, or a listening ear can mend the hairline splinter before it becomes a noticeable crack.

But sometimes the friendly word or cup of coffee can no longer fix the problem. We may have allowed too much pressure, too many storms to go by unnoticed, and only when the branch is hanging by splinters from the vine do we become concerned. The family has split; the job has ended; the drugs have won; the person is lost.

Not only does the person who breaks away become unproductive, but scars are left on the vine. The congregation is weakened. The fruit from the branch will be lost. The love, patience, joy, gentleness—fruit of the Spirit that could have made a difference in the congregation and thus the world—will be of no use to anyone.

I studied the splintered branch on the tree above me more closely, and then searched for a prop. And as I search for alternatives to mending the tree, I pray for ways to reach Beth and her family. Maybe with love and attention I can help the branch  get grafted back into the trunk. But even better, God will show me what is needed to graft my friend back onto the vine of Jesus.

Remedies for splitting branches in our congregations need to be found. Early inspection of the branches, prayers, telephone calls, personal visits, teaching, and re-teaching may become the props for re-growth onto the vine. With God’s help, perhaps we can graft these branches back to the vine and each of them can begin to bear fruit again. |L

Clella Camp is a freelance writer in Paris, Illinois.

OUTLOOK is a forum for responsible Christian writers. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Standard Publishing or The Lookout.

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