Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. James 1:19 ESV
Though there are libraries filled with books, college courses and seminars on how to edit, strangely enough, I learned some of the best pointers on the subject from the apple orchard. After many Winters of frozen fingers and toes, while pruning those trees it felt like I was getting to know some of them on a first name basis! Now, back in those days I wasn’t doing much of the “be quick to hear” stuff, but as I have grown older, I am beginning to remember things spoken to me years ago. These words of wisdom that God was trying to tell me in the orchard, apply as much to life as to writing, So, even if you don’t fancy yourself an author, these just might help you find the path that He has laid out for you as well.
Clear Away those Suckers!
Both editing and pruning begin as process of organizing. When I start to trim an apple tree, I don’t just wade into it with a chain saw, slicing here and hacking away there. No! Instead, a person has to begin by clearing away the sucker growth. For the uninitiated, sucker growth means those long straight stems that shoot up both from the trunk as well as the tops of trees during the Summer. You see that sucker growth looks great, because it is tall and strong, but it will never bear fruit. Instead, just as their name implies, they suck the strength away from the rest of the tree. Sucker growth, in our life and writing is when we are trying too hard and saying too much. In writing, suckers look like crowds of adjectives or unnecessary rabbit trails leading readers down paths of our personal pet peeves. Sometimes suckers come in the form of fifty-dollar words, we toss in, hoping folks will see how brilliant we are. If left unchecked, these guys will grow taller and taller, but they won’t yield a single piece of fruit. What we should be looking for are the branches called fruitwood. Fruitwood looks old and gnarly, but it is filled with healthy buds, that burst into white and pink blossoms in the Springtime. As trimmers, our job is to eliminate anything that steals the air flow and sunshine from the mature fruitwood. Trimming out the clutter in our manuscript or in our daily life, might feel as if we are oversimplifying, but if we want our readers to taste the fruit of the ideas we are trying to communicate, we must not be afraid to ruthlessly cut back everything that draws away attention from the heart of our story and puts the focus on us, instead of on Jesus. So, if you are ready for a new year and a new perspective, then grab those pruning tools, put on your coat and a warm pair of gloves and let’s go out into the orchard and get to work!
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“Trying too hard and saying too much.” When I was younger, this was a BIG problem for me. Now, I’m a little better with it. Yours is a great point, Pastor Pete: how much of what I’m thinking, saying, doing, and writing is unnecessary? Yours is the second post this morning on this very theme.
What a great lesson, Pete! And like Jesus, you provided a picture to make it memorable. I’ll be on the lookout for those “suckers.” 😉
It’s good to be back and be here, Pastor Pete. Hello, David! A few years ago the theme of pruning (and cutting back in every area of my life that was dead, stunting growth, NOT life-giving for Christ’s purpose) hit my heart. It was due to a sermon I heard. Your advice of editing~writing, the orchard, brings it back to my attention and goals! Well-written, wise, and timely! God bless you! Happy New Year and pruning!
Hello, friend! It’s been awhile, but I’ve kept up (a bit) with your story. I hope you are doing well and healing well, too. 🙏The Lord Bless you and keep you, Karla. I hope I got your name right. If not, Pete can edit. 😊
David, thank you! It’s been such a journey. I’m so thankful to God for his miracles. I go to my oncologist today. We need to start treatments asap to keep cancer in bones “at bay”. I’ve battled infections and have some issues that need to be addressed today. I can’t thank God enough for the miracles! I pray you are enjoying some time off! And yes, my name is right! Stay blessed and well, my friend. Karla 🙏🏻🙂
Praying for you Karla! 🙏 The Lord Jesus Christ is with you. He never leaves you nor forsakes you. Lean on Him and trust His faithful Word. The Holy Spirit will comfort you.
Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! (2 Thessalonians 3:16, NASB)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14, NASB)
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17, NASB)
Thank you so very much! Some of my favorite verses right here! I have leaned heavily on one of Christ’s names~Immanuel. Not just for Christmas ~but since this journey began. You shared such truth~HE will never leave or forsake us! And I feel the comfort of the Holy Spirit. I haven’t always been in good communion~but throughout life, my path to it has been such a wonderful and intimate journey! I pray peace and good health for you, too. I can’t say enough how I appreciate this encouragement and the prayers and support. 💛🙏🏻💕
Just passing the information along to review. You might check with your doctors to see if this (Noni juice) is something you can take with your treatments / meds. We know someone who took it during their battle with bone cancer and it helped her to relieve pain. All people are different. I would rather give you the info than not. God bless you.
https://www.bioinnovations.net/prodinfo.asp?number=ON31032
Thank you so much! I appreciate it! I will check. I was just there today. I had part of my pancreas removed (with largest tumor), spleen, gallbladder, 10 lymph nodes, and 15 off of liver. I went back to oncologist today as my pain has increased. Unfortunately, my liver enzymes had tripled and they ordered scans for tomorrow. Yes, the bones still have tumors (they can’t remove) so I’m open to suggestions and possibilities! God bless you! I will show this to them! ❤️
Hi Karla. Thanks for commenting and welcome back. Though my blog was spitting out posts, I had those preset from before the weekend and just came back this morning. If you have time, stayed tuned tomorrow for part 2 on deadwood removal.
Hello, Pete! I look forward to it! God bless you!
I have a quote on my computer from Elizabeth Elliott, but I am away from it for a time, but the best I remember of it is, “There are many things that need not be said, most of all by me.”😉
I’m going through some post from long ago doing some catch up reading. This is an excellent post, Pastor Pete. It resonates with me on my past year of writing. I cut back on frequency as I sought and continue to seek what the Lord wants me do.
I agree. I have cut back a bit and probably should do that more
Writers are in different seasons of life and God is uniquely at work in each person. Using your pruning analogy further, I’m certain each tree was pruned according to its specific needs. Likewise, I had to discover, in Christ, what is right for this season of my life, both in my reading and writing.
That began with accepting that another tree (writer) may be shaped different than me yet both produce good fruit when tended by the Master Gardner.
I really appreciate your reading and commenting. Writing this series was a lot of work but it was a labor of love. So glad to know someone is being blessed.