In the Gospel of John, Jesus describes himself with a number of statements that begin “I am” something. I like that he doesn’t say “I’m like” this or that, he says “I am.” It just feels like he’s being more direct, more connected to the thing and then I feel more connected to the thing. Sure, it’s a metaphor, but I just feel a deeper connection - “I am” is just more powerful than “I’m like.” To me, anyway.
Maybe it’s because it reminds me of God talking to Moses back in Exodus. Remember the burning bush conversation? Moses asks God for a name to tell the people who sent him and God says “I am who I am … tell them, ‘I am’ has sent me to you.” Maybe that’s the deeper connection. And connection is the point of Jesus saying that.
One that I always think of at this time of year is when Jesus says “I am the true vine … I am the vine; you are the branches.” (John 15:1,5) It's multilayered and not without its challenges, but to me, that just reminds me of how vines work: long stems, busy tendrils, clingy roots, dense leaves. It speaks to an intimate relationship, a connectedness that is deeply rooted, nurturing and mutually beneficial. Health and wholeness in this image is a dense, complicated, bushy plant.
That might seem a less than appropriate image at this time of year: where we live, it’s almost winter. Those dense, bushy vines with their long stems and clingy tendrils are now hard, brown, leafless - and lifeless - stems, curled up and frozen. Their time is done. They seem dead.
But they’re not. They’re waiting. Those roots, hidden in the ground, are just waiting to spring back to life again. Those roots that anchor the vine, that draw nourishment from the soil and feed the vine, those roots that connect the vine to the earth are just waiting to bring life to the vine. And they will: spring will come.
We don’t have any control of when winter comes to our lives. Sometimes it’s seasonal, sometimes it’s grief, the cold of loneliness or hurt. Sometimes maybe it’s a blizzard of busy that threatens to overwhelm us, wear us out or disconnect us from the world around us.
But. We are part of the vine. We have roots. And when those roots dig deep into love, they bring us life. When we remember that they connect us to the earth and to each other, they bring us life. Even when cold winds blow or frost tries to break us, roots anchor us and hold us up. Even when it feels as though winter is never-ending, it will, and spring will come and roots will find the water and nourishment we need for new life. Not to return to the old life, but to grow and thrive in a new day.
Dig deep. Reach out. Roots hold us close to the earth, close to each other. Roots hold us close to God, the spirit of life in all things.
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