By Chap. (Capt.) William Martin
Special to GUIDON

The humidity we have here in Missouri helped me to reflect on summers in upstate South Carolina, and somehow took me back to homemade Muscadine wine. I am not advocating alcohol consumption … just remembering.  

There is a special moment in the life of Jesus following the Last Supper and prior to the Crucifixion where he chooses to use a symbol to convey powerful truth to the disciples. They are walking through a garden full of grapevines. Jesus likens himself to the vine, the gardener to the father, and the believer to the branches. When we are connected to him, he provides us with power to overcome the storms of life, shackles of sin, and mental and emotional residue of past pain and bitterness. Greater still, he make us as instruments to lead other hurting and broken people, just like us, to him in order to care for their hurts and pain.

It is almost like a wine press that he allows us to travel through in our journey with him. Luke 6:38 tells us, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full — pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” He ferments us through the wine press of his Holy Spirit in order to make us into his own homemade wine.

If you are seeking help in the areas of your life, I encourage you to see your unit chaplain. I am excited for what the Lord will do for you. I am more excited for what the Lord will do through you for others, as you allow him to ferment you into his homemade wine.

(Editor’s note: Martin is the 35th Engineer Battalion chaplain.)