Pruning

​Sometimes I just want to be an undercover agent.  The bed covers seem real good.  Never mind that is where I have been, and been enjoying it.  I just want to do it some more.  I don’t want to face things.  Exercise.  Interact.  I am comfortable where I am thank you very much.
If I was looking for an excuse, I could blame some in my past.  I have seen that characteristic.  No wonder it is said anything left to itself tends to decay.  Everything needs to be maintained.  I just need to look at old civilizations.  Buildings are overgrown with trees and vines.  They tell of something that was once great but is great no more.
But although my past may hint of such things, I am responsible for the here and now.  A judge never judges on ancestry, but on the here and now.  There may be things in my past that make things harder but breaking them is up to me.  I am responsible for me and my actions.
Still the covers seem attractive.  But what is happening reminds me of what we see in our garden.  In summer new life grows and trees are full of light green leaves intermingled with older leaves.
We do a trim or prune.  It serves a few purposes, but it is the only way we can shape a plant the way we want it to grow.  Without a prune, the growth may be rich and diverse, but it can get in the way.  There is one tree I need to prune now.  It is my habit to walk the path to make sure all is well.  This tree has a branch that gets in the way.  I need to push it aside to get where I am going.  What would be better is if the tree were pruned and I could walk the path unimpeded.
The pruning process seems counter-productive for the tree though.  I can’t imagine a tree saying “you beaty.  Pruning time.  My favourite time of the year.”  It is only after pruning that in our eyes the trees true potential is reached.
I see vineyards with vines trimmed back to within an inch of their lives.  I am led to believe that is done for a reason though.  It makes next year’s harvest the best it can be.
I have noticed in my life that I balk at growing.  It is painful.  It is a great unknown.  I am definitely more comfortable with familiar.  Ok it can be “same, same” but at least there are no surprises.  But I am kidding myself.  I just need to look at the trees in our yard.   Without a prune the growth is uncontrolled.  Often the job to fix it is bigger than it would have been if I had pruned it when I should have.
I have found that pruning trees is never a “well that’s it.  Never again” thing.  Every year trees need pruning to be something of tamed beauty.
The covers are still attractive.  If I stay here, I can avoid the pruning.  But I will get up.  Why should I avoid the best?