The Vine and the Branches
February 4, 2025
This morning we set sail across a sea of 20 Creative Affirmations. A sea indeed, for these statements feel as solid as water in the palm of my hand and as unpredictable as crashing waves.
As mentioned in the previous post, writing has proven to be a great tool in working out what I believe, so I’m writing about 20 statements about creativity and flourishing.
The affirmations heavily reference “God”, but if we lean into the particularities of Christ, I find myself at Jesus's words about the vine and its branches.
The first affirmation reads: I am a channel for God's creativity, and my work comes to good.
Jesus says, "I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit." (John 15:5)
...
The second affirmation reads: My dreams come from God and God has the power to accomplish them.
Jesus says, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." (John 15:7)
...
The third affirmation says: As I create and listen, I will be led.
Jesus says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser... every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it may bear more fruit." (John 15:1-2)
...
The fourth affirmation says: Creativity is the Creator's will for me.
Jesus says, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (John 15:11)
...
The fifth affirmation says: My creativity heals myself and others.
Jesus says, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." (John 15:12-13)
What I hear from Jesus is: it's possible to remain connected to the source of true beauty, goodness, and truth. The result? Fruit. This seems to be true of creativity - it cannot be willed or fabricated, rather its a response to something beyond.
Words like “abide” and “remain” are filled with comfort. Jesus assured his disciples, "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you." (John 15:3-4) Thus, our first affirmation:
I am connected to the vine of Christ, and I bear much fruit.
The second affirmation solely depends on the first. Our prayer is that God gives us the desires of our heart, so that he may fulfill them. As we humbly abide in Christ and attune our desires to His Kingdom come and His will be done, we can say:
My dreams come from God, and God has the power to accomplish them.
Assuming a posture of humility as we grow, knowing that our fruit is not a result of our will, striving, or understanding, we know that the Vinedresser sets up trellises, redirects our growth, and prunes our branches for our good so that we can admit:
As I create and listen, I will be led the good Vinedresser.
Creativity, as I understand it, is the expression of beauty, goodness, and truth which originates and terminates in God. Not only did the Creator willingly make himself known, but he willingly sacrificed everything to reconcile his creation to himself. It is because of God's revelation and reconciliation in Christ that we can say:
Reflecting God's Beauty, Goodness, and Truth is God's will for me.
To what end? Healing. From Christ's example to our commission: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:12-13) Our fifth affirmation:
Creativity heals myself and others.
Off to a good start, thanks to the Vinedresser. Here is the full passage, reading it all together feels like poetry.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
John 15:1-17 ESV