By The Way: The Gardener and the Withered Vine

By Scott Raible on September 20, 2025.

There was once a gardener who walked daily through his vineyard.

He delighted in the strong, leafy vines that bore clusters of fruit. But one day he came upon a vine that had withered – its leaves dry, its branches brittle, its grapes shriveled. His workers said, “Cut it down; it is useless. The others are flourishing, and this one only takes up space.”

But the gardener shook his head. Instead of cutting, he knelt beside it. He loosened the hard soil around its roots. He brought fresh water from the well. He pruned away dead wood gently, carefully, until life could flow again.

Day after day, he returned, speaking tenderly, shielding it from the scorching sun. Slowly, the vine began to green. In time, it bore fruit again – smaller perhaps, but sweeter, for it had been saved by the gardener’s love.

This is Christ’s heart for us.

He does not discard the withered. He does not measure worth by strength or beauty. He kneels, He waters, He prunes, He waits. Where the world sees waste, He sees a life worth restoring.

We are that vine.

There are seasons when we flourish and seasons when we wither. Sin, grief, or neglect can leave us dry and lifeless. Yet Christ the Gardener does not cut us off. By His Spirit, He loosens the soil of our hearts, waters us with grace, prunes us with truth, and shelters us with mercy.

If today you feel withered, know this: Christ is at your side, and Christ is on your side.

He does not give up on you. He is patient. He is near. And in His time, you will bear fruit again – not by your strength, but by His love.

The world says, “Cut it down.” But Jesus says, “Let me tend it.” That is the good news of His love: He is always faithful and He never gives up on us.

Amen.

Scott Raible is a lay minister serving at St Barnabas Church in Medicine Hat and at St Ambrose in Redcliff. Scott started Christian radio in Medicine Hat with Alive 99.5 and was an announcer and music director with 93.7 Praise FM. Scott can be reached at scottraible@gmail.com

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