Pruning

Any good gardener knows that beautiful roses require careful pruning. Pieces of living plant have to die. It cannot just grow wild. We cannot simply “celebrate growth.” It is more than to be regretted, it is tragic that we seem to have lost the insight that growth in Christ requires careful pruning. Pieces of us by our intentional action need to die if we are to become that person that is in God’s vision. We are not cutting

away a cancerous growth, but making room for intended growth. Mortification refers to that intentional action of pruning of life that better life might grow by God’s grace—just as better roses grow by God’s grace.

          --From Spirituality for Ministry by Urban T. Holmes III