By Andrea Merrell
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.
Those who remain in me,
and I in them, will produce much fruit.
For apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5 NLT
Now that we have a pen full of chickens, I have become very
proficient at peeling boiled eggs.
The secret is to crack the shell, then gently roll it (either on a flat surface or in your hand) until the membrane underneath the shell separates from the egg. Then you pinch off a portion of the shell and insert the tip of a spoon (curved side down) underneath the membrane. Carefully lift the spoon and move it around the egg. The shell should come right off. Easy-peasy.
But not all eggs peel the same—even when you add a pinch of
salt and a dash of vinegar to the water. Sometimes I get an egg that simply
refuses to be peeled. No matter how careful I am or how hard I try, I end up
with a mess.
It’s the same in life. Just when I get too comfortable with
something I’ve done successfully a hundred times, along comes a situation that
simply refuses to be resolved. If not careful, I can end up with a mess.
In John, Jesus explains that He is the vine; we are the
branches. If the branch becomes detached from the vine, it can do nothing on
its own. The Passion translation says when we live separated from Him, “we are
powerless.”
Now what, you might be thinking, does the story of the vine and the branches have to do with
an egg? Every person is different. So is every situation. I’m learning that apart from Him I can do nothing. I need
His wisdom and guidance no matter what I’m doing—and no matter how many times
I’ve done it before.
Even peeling a boiled egg.
(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and digitalart.)
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