Jesus told many stories about vineyards with good harvests and bad. One story was about a vineyard that yielded wild grapes. It was planted to perfection, but those for whom the vineyard was planted wanted more… not knowing that what they sought would lead to sin, and the perfect vineyard yielded “wild grapes.” But in the end, the ultimate Love Song, which would bring things back into order, was sung for us from a cross on a Friday afternoon long ago. And it’s that perfect Love Song that makes life bearable… that song helps us wake up each morning to welcome whatever is ours for that day. And it’s that perfect Love Song that gives us eternal life.

The message is simple: we just want to be loved. But, unfortunately, we all know people who are caught up in the world of wild grapes: what they have, what they want to accomplish, what they make, how much money they have saved, how many expensive trips they’ve taken…I could go on, but all that…is wild grapes because none of it can lead us to eternal life and lasting love.

Everything comes down to grasping the Love Song…and the God who sings it. “Seek those things that are above,” says Jesus. “Treasures in heaven will never wear out.” And in the words of the children’s song Jesus loves me, the message is clear. Wild grapes are always lurking, but we know the Love Song.