The Life Of The Vine

A song from a decade ago...

The fruit of the vine must not remain forever on the vine
It must be crushed and trampled to make refreshing wine.
The grain is harvested and then is ground in  mills for wheat
To make a pure and sifted flour to bake good bread to eat.

The seed of nard is gathered and crushed to release
Its fragrance-- so to be fulfilled, it's former life must cease
The olive on the branch is plucked and in the vise is pressed
To make the oil of gladness it must become distressed.

For living we die and dying we live
All that is given is for us to give
Buried we're raised if we only believe
Because of the life of the vine
For in dying we live and in living we die
We take up our cross with the One crucified
Present ourselves a living sacrifice
Because of the life of the vine

The fig must in its season be pruned and cut away
Else it will never bear good fruit or see its fruit displayed
The tree must be cut down to make a cross of wood
Else all the world would die like it- it's death would do us good.

This is life's purpose the reason God gave
We're born to be used up so others are saved
We can nurture each other because He forgave
Part of the chain of life divine
This mysterious life on the vine.

For living we die and dying we live
All that is given is for us to give
Buried we're raised if we only believe
Because of the life of the vine
For in dying we live and in living we die
We take up our cross with the One crucified
Present ourselves a living sacrifice
Because of the life of the vine...

Anthony Foster