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| (Photo by Aichas) |
Whereas it’s certainly true that the Gospel of John 15:1 asserts that Jesus is “the true vine” – it is equally true that the Bible says absolutely nothing about kudzu. Therefore, those who are convinced that the cross-shaped vine that is clinging to a utility pole one mile south of Kinston is not only Jesus, but also kudzu, might need to take a second look.
Not to downplay the “miraculous” qualities of kudzu… Although native to Japan, it adapted all too well to the American South. According to maxshores.com, it now “covers over seven million acres” there. James Dickey’s poem, titled (you guessed it) Kudzu, even warns: In Georgia… you must close your windows at night to keep it out of the house…
Nevertheless, the Kinston Free Press recently reported that the “kudzu” Jesus was instead a “trumpet vine” Jesus. Trumpetvine.org reports that these are climbing vines with bright-colored, trumpet-shaped flowers that grow on and off from summer until early fall. They were originally sub-tropical, but can grow in dry areas, as well. They, like kudzu, can be extremely “aggressive and invasive.”
Unlike kudzu however, there have been numerous references to “trumpets” within the Bible. According to 1 Chronicles 13:8, King David not only played the harp, timbrel, and cymbals - but also the trumpet. 1
Corinthians 15:52 tells us that it is the trumpet that will summon the dead from their graves on Judgment Day. Numbers 10:2-3 calls for “two trumpets of silver” in order to call the assembly to the “door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” Psalm 81:3 calls for blowing the trumpet “in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.”
So – blow, Gabriel, blow! The Vine doth climb in Kinston, North Carolina.
Resources
http://weirdnews.aol.com/2011/06/30/holy-kudzu-vine jesus_n_887548.html#s300951&title=Kudzu_Jesus
http://www.maxshores.com/kudzu/
http://www.arcamax.com/religionandspirituality/religiousnews/s-909993
http://www.trumpetvine.org/
http://www.bible-topics.com/Trumpet.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timbrel
Copyright July 3, 2011 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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