Why Life Feels So Hard (And What a Dead Stick Taught Me About It)

The Great Vine Conundrum (or, Why I’m Just a Stick)

Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

This is deeply profound—and also highly inconvenient when I’d rather rely on my own strength.

Because here’s the truth: a branch detached from the vine is just a stick. And I’ve spent a lot of time trying to be a really impressive stick.

And speaking of sticks, my kids love picking them up in the backyard. At first, it’s innocent—waving them around, pretending they’re swords. But it always escalates. What starts as play turns into combat, and suddenly, someone is crying.

A stick can’t bear fruit. It can’t grow, it can’t heal—it can only be used for whacking. And honestly? That’s me when I try to do life apart from Christ. Instead of producing patience and peace, I’m just out here swinging, reacting, making a mess.

But Jesus didn’t call me to be a stick. He called me to remain in Him.

Which brings me to interruptions.

I like to think of myself as an easygoing guy, but let’s be honest—when I’m in a flow, whether it’s telling a story, sharing some profound insight, or just making a point, I do not love being interrupted. And yet, interruptions are basically the rhythm of my life.

The kids want to show us something. Again. A drink gets spilled. Again. I hear, “Dad, the toilet won’t flush!” only to discover that no one even tried.

And here’s where it gets humbling: I react. I sigh. I feel inconvenienced. I forget that Christ rolled with the interruptions—and that’s often where the miracles happened.

Healing the sick? Interrupted on the way.
Feeding the five thousand? Started as an interruption.
The woman caught in adultery? An attempt to interrupt His teaching.

Jesus didn’t see interruptions as obstacles; He saw them as opportunities.

Maybe living from the inside out means recognizing that the life of Christ in me is more important than the moment I thought I was having. That instead of grumbling about how the world around me is falling apart, I should be asking whether I’m staying connected to the vine—or just swinging my stick.

What about you? How do you handle interruptions? Do you see them as annoyances or opportunities?

Let’s talk. (But if you get interrupted while typing, no worries—I’ll wait.)