Month: January 2014

Insights inspired by 7 top vine-growers in A Year In Burgundy

One of the first films I tippled this year was A Year In Burgundy. It followed the lives of a number of winemakers and their vines through the changing seasons of the year.

The annual cycle that produces some of the world’s finest wines yields a number of valuable life lessons.

1   Value your uniqueness

Science and market expectations are pushing some winemakers towards producing samey wines, as one maker observed. As long as this standardisation is resisted, the uniqueness of each vintage can be enjoyed, drawing on each vintner’s unique personality.

Similarly, you and I are unique and we don’t need to try to live out someone else’s life. Each of us is a one-off creation with a distinctive ‘flavour’ based on a special personality, set of talents and individual assignment.

2   Take time to take root

Vines need to be allowed time to put down deep roots, which can stretch down as far as four or five metres. This means relying on the rain alone – even punctuated by dry spells – and not frequent irrigation, which leads to shallow roots.

In cultivating our relationship with God, we need to develop a strong root system by spending quality time focusing our affections on Him and learning to rely on Him, whatever the weather of circumstances. ‘Irrigation’ by other people’s revelations and insights, while valuable, is not enough to enable us to develop those strong tap roots grown through one-on-one time with God himself.

3   You have to be part of part of the vine’s life

One vine-grower summed up her approach to understanding what the vine needs to be able to thrive: “You have to be part of the life of the vine.”

Unwittingly, she hit on a vital key to grasping our true identity and thriving in life. Jesus said: ‘I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit.’¹

A branch is part of the life of the vine, as long as it abides in – stays connected to – the vine. You and I, through faith and ongoing relationship with him, are part of the life of Jesus. Your fruit – character, atmosphere, influence, accomplishments or impact on others – is actually his fruit, which he nurtures, nourishes and releases from within you.

4   Create breathing space

During summer, the above winemaker gathered together the topmost vine branches, bent them over in an arch and tied them to the top trellis wire. She doesn’t tie them together too tightly, she explained, “so that they can breathe.”

Consider trellises as a metaphor for frameworks, structures and systems. While important, the system needs to be the servant and not the master. Vine-growers grow vines that bear fruit, not trellises. In church, work and privately, if we bind life too tightly to the institution, ‘the way things are done around here’ or too rigid a personal masterplan, we run the risk of operating in a legalistic, rules-based way that stifles life and lasting growth.

5   Time your harvest well

Timing the harvest of the ripe grape clusters is crucial, and closely studying the weather is key to picking the optimal time. Rain too close to the harvest can cause oversized grapes, hailstones damage the grapes, and, if left on the vine too long, the grapes will spoil.

Picking our moments in spiritual, workplace and relational contexts is also vital. It may be a question of when to share our faith, offer to pray for someone or take part in an outreach. Or it could be when and how to approach a prospect, challenge a colleague or launch a new initiative. Staying tuned into God for wisdom on timing is key.

6   Value pruning

Pruning of vine branches takes place at the end of the season, strengthening the roots for the next year’s harvest. The cut branches are then burned and the ashes used to enrich the soil. There are areas where we all need ‘pruning’, both in the sense of removing material ‘stuff’ from our lives, as well as activities, habits and mindsets.

Something that was fruitful in a past season of your life, that was good for that phase, may now need to be laid down. Does a particular job function or ministry role need now to make way for your next assignment, or perhaps for a dream that you have been putting off for months or even years?

7   Offer quality fruit

During the harvest, one exercised winemaker berated some of the grape pickers for putting damaged fruit into the harvesting paniers. Appealing them to respect his work, he then showed them how to remove the damaged grapes and let them fall to the ground. Thinking this through, I am challenged always to offer the best I can, whether in business, ministry or relational life, and not cut corners.

In this new growth cycle of your life in 2014, how does the vine-growing year inspire you to make sure it’ll be a good vintage? Learning from the ultimate Vine-grower², as I continually find,  is key.

¹   John 15:5 NKJV     ²   John 15:1 NKJV