Even though it was raining, I decided to take my boys and go camping for the Labour Day weekend, to take some time away from my busy schedule, and to rest and reflect on

what the Lord would have me do with the coming school year. I enjoyed the company of my children, as we explored the shores of Georgian Bay and found creative ways to have fun in a trailer when it's cool and damp.

Most of all, I enjoyed extended morning walks of prayer and fellowship with my Lord. This particular morning I was focusing on

the question of what God wanted me to communicate to my Youth for Christ staff when we gathered for our first meeting of the new school year. He had impressed upon me through many Scripture passages, the idea of "First Things First".

As I walked along, I prayed "Lord, show me clearly what You mean"; and the answer came swiftly.

I had reached a chain link fence that marked the boundaries of the campground, and a bend in the road. As I turned the corner, I noticed a vine growing up ahead on the fence.

It was a beautiful, healthy grapevine cascading over the fence in a lovely, symmetrical pattern; almost as if it were not real. It was lovely to look at - large healthy leaves, no holes or brown spots, no bare sections.

A large portion of fence was covered, maybe 15 feet, with this exceptionally healthy vine that was obviously tended to be pleasing to the eye.

But, as I came closer to observe, I had a startling revelation: no fruit, not even a hint of fruit! It was definitely a grapevine, but without any grapes. Barren, empty, beautiful vines; and they did serve a purpose (they made a privacy cover for the fence) but not their intended purpose.

The application was very clear to me. God was reminding me that my first priority, as His servant and also as a YFC worker was to bear fruit. "You did not choose me, but I c h o s e you and appointed to go and bear fruit - fruit that w i l l l a s t . " ( J o h n 15:16)

I believe there is a real danger in both personal life and ministry to focus on externals; reputation, living to be an example, running good programs and trying to impress. This is especially pertinent for me, now that The Door is moving into a new building.

With our fundraising and renovations beginning, we need to keep our eyes on the goal - which is the ministry, and not the building. I never want to be guilty of pouring my energies into administration while neglecting the fruit-bearing ministry God has called me to.

As I walked further, I noticed ahead another vine growing over the fence in a remote, neglected corner of t h e park.

T h i s w a s obviously not as healthy as the other vine, since it was gnarled and twisted and growing every which way. It had leaves that were brown and full of holes, and it looked very old, unkempt, ugly and broken. Nothing like the lovely, healthy vines I had seen before.

But as I walked over to it another difference was obvious - the fruit! So much fruit. Grapes upon grapes, everywhere you looked, healthy, plump, new grapes. The vines needed to be pruned, but the fruit was undeniable.

So what was God telling me? Stop worrying about appearances and get about your business of making fruit. As Executive Director of YFC, administration is important; but it cannot consume all of my energy and focus.

Similarly, in my personal life I have to check myself often to make sure that my motives are pure, and that I'm not mimicking the Pharisees who loved all the attention of being the religious leaders but in their hearts they were far from God.

"The Lord does not look at things man looks at. Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (I Sam 16: 7)

My prayer is that as God looks on your heart and mine, He sees an abundance of fruit - the fruit of His Spirit, healthy and growing; feeding others and planting seeds to reproduce healthy fruit in them.