Life in a Faith Winery

I have been thinking a lot lately about the image of a winery. Living in one of the world's premiere wine regions, I have come to appreciate how the wine-making process is analogous to the faith-growing process.

First of all, we all begin with so much potential. Just like the farmer in spring looks at his vines to assess the potential harvest, we all begin our lives with so much potential. However, in the same way that there are so many variables in the growth of the grapes (not enough rain; too much rain; bugs; disease; hail; etc), there is much that happens in all of our lives that works against the realization of our God-given potential. Circumstances arise that may (or may not) be beyond our control, causing damage and pain and testing our resiliency.

And then the grapes are harvested and pressed so that all that is usable in them is completely extracted for the purpose of the vintner. And as they sit and rot, they slowly turn into their intended purpose. And the potential that was in them has finally been realized.

As we remain in the Vine (and He in us) we, too, will see the potential within us come to fruition. Not without pain. Not without damage. Not without being completely pressed on every side. Not without giving everything we have for His purpose. And not quickly. The process of making wine is painful and slow. The process of making us, of maturing our faith, is also painful and slow.

But we are in the hands of the Vintner, who will create a beautiful vintage from the sour grapes that we are!