Kissing A Grapevine

Last night, while we were having a little fire in our back garden, my son and I were walking our fence line. Several years ago, I was given 3 grapevine cuttings to propagate. Only one took. You see, when we moved in to this place, there was already a lush Concord vine growing. I have had to protect this from careless developers on the other side of our fence who have reached over the fence and cut this vine.

When given the opportunity to grow another variety, I said yes. My mother-in-law helped me quite a bit. The kids have cared for this growing vine over the past few years. It has now creeped up our fence and is taller than my 6 feet.

Last night, as I gave up at this vine with the tiny green and growing grapes on it, I was overcome with the desire to kiss the vine. I pushed it down as silly. Then I relented and dove deeply into that feeling. I gently brushed my lips against this vine. "I am so glad you are growing and doing well friend. You are a sight to behold." My son was beside me. He watched me smiling.

When I was brought up, you could never acknowledge creation and thank any created thing (other than another human) but God alone. Thanking a tree or an animal or an orange was an act of heresy!! That kiss was an act of decolonization--an acknowledgement of another life, of thankfulness, of beauty, of food sovereignty. We humans are simply a part of all of Creation. We can thank Creator and thank Creation. We are in a vital relationship with both.

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