When we let go of our grudges and excuses, it is like having God prune away dead branches from our lives. It may hurt and disappoint us at first, but in the long run it will set us free. In fact, without such remedial pruning, we many never be free at all. That is one kind of pruning. Another kind has to do with pruning branches that are already bearing fruit, in order that they may bear even more.
Healthy plants have a tendency to grow a whole lot of leaves.
Now if the goal is leaves, that's fine. But if the goal is fruit, then you will have to prune back some of the foliage in order to promote the growth of fruit. In the life of the church there is a tendency to see healthy congregations in terms of foliage rather than fruit. Sometimes the foliage needs to be pruned, so that fruit may be produced more abundantly. Several years ago our Campus Ministry Committee offered a Sunday evening swim party and barbecue for students as a kind of concluding event for the school year.