Grapes and Grumbling!

Here’s a famous fable:

Driven by hunger, a fox tried to reach some grapes hanging high on the vine but was unable to, although he leaped with all his strength. As he went away, the fox remarked, 'Oh, you aren't even ripe yet! I don't need any sour grapes.'

Something to ponder: When we are not able to immediately be successful at a certain skill, or attain a certain financial position with one application, or achieve a certain goal with minimal effort, or be first in line to purchase the latest whatever, or be satisfied with the silver metal, - then, do we just give up and hear ourselves remark, “I don’t need sour grapes”? 

The fox in the story was not able to reach the grapes, so he declared them to be sour.  The poor grapes!  They were resented by the fox because he was not able to reach them after all his leaping.  This is what happens when deep down unhealed pieces of life sour our field of feelings.  We can sputter 'n spit out words of anger, jealously, bitterness, or envy and live with a “sour grapes attitude” toward some or all of life. Yikes!

From my life experiences, I know that “instant” anything is an illusion. It takes time, energy, practice, rest, prayer, quieting, supportive friends, hope, courage, study, practice, and more practice to become the more of who we are.  George Elliot once wrote:  It's never too late to become the person you might have been.  Yet, we know that there is no Express Lane for this type of growth!  Everything takes time.

In our Gospel today, (May 6) , Jesus says that he is the vine and we are the branches, (John 15:1-8).  All we need to do is remain in him, and he promises that (we) - the branches -will bear much fruit. Yahoo! 

Well, in my neck of the woods, grape vines are few and far between.  But from what I have read, grapes are very adaptable and they can grow just about anywhere.  They need good exposure to the sun; the soil needs to be well drained; rocky soil is best – the rockier the better; and enough warmth to ripen the grapes.  So the same with us; if we remain in relationship with our God, we will get lots of practice with challenges to adapt to all the changes that come our way as gifts in life!  We may often find ourselves on rocky pathways, but it seems that the rockier the better makes for the best ground for growing us into our best Self.  And with the warmth of the love of family, friends, and community, we will “ripen” into the best-we-can-be-person at this time.  Then we will not find ourselves sputtering with a “sour grapes attitude” toward life, but we will be leaping with joy and gladness!