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"You are my very own cross," Tovina murmured. "You, my cross, were shaped by the hands of the Husbandman. I will not despise you. Speak then, and teach me your lessons."
"There is no such thing as painless cross, for the sap runs out, and even the Husbandman cries with the hurt. But with the Husbandman in control, neither is there ever a needless cross, for by the cross is connection TO THE VINE." So spake the cross.
"Stop! I do not think I like the pain of a cross."
"The pain of the cross glows with light because the Vine bears it with you and the Husbandman shares it, too. Yes, each day you must take up your cross, for my most important lesson must be learned anew each day."
"What is that most important lesson?"
"The most important lesson to remember whenever you look at the cross is that of giving up on the grapes. Here is why: When the cross cut deeply, no voice from the Vine cried out, ‘No! I need that sap to produce my grapes!' The sap that flowed out upon the cross gave up on ever sending life and sweetness to the grapes. In fact, the Vine of itself could not even cause a cross, hoping thus to produce more grapes, but could only give up to the plans of the Husbandman. And you were sliced away from your own wild grapes; through the cross, through giving up on those grapes, you have connection. And again, Tovina, you will always, until the transplant, be a branch from a wild grape vine; only by the cross, by giving up on the grapes, can the pleasant grapes ever show forth.
"Then after the transplant, the scars of the cross are all that will remain forever to remind you that you came from a wild grape vine. The cross will remind you that the praise for the grapes goes always TO THE VINE."
The atmosphere itself dripped with the injunction, TO THE VINE, for the Rain came again.
"TO THE VINE for control
By the Husbandman."
TO THE VINE via the cross.
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