31st October
I’m sure many if you will remember the illegal felling of the Sycamore Gap Tree. Within hours the news was global. A tree that had been featured in TV series, films, books, had witnessed marriage proposals and throngs of people visiting or walking Hadrian’s Wall.
The story of the tree did not end with its felling.
From seedlings and small twigs taken from the site, 49 saplings have been cultivated. These ’Trees of Hope’ each represent a foot of the trees height and are being planted across the country.
I was so proud when one of the saplings was planted in our local country park and hope to take a picture each year to record its growth.
On top of that a regional craftsman is making a sculpture of the felled wood that will be seen by many in years to come.
As much as I would like to turn back time and still be able to visit this iconic tree, new life has been born from this despicable act.
As a prayer I would like you to meditate on the words of a song written by Natalie Sleeth. Inspired by spring and T.S. Eliot’s line “In the end is my beginning”, Sleeth wrote the hymn around the time her husband was diagnosed with cancer. The full text of the hymn can be found here: https://www.hopepublishing.com/find-hymns-hw/hw3983.aspx
It’s a song of promise and hope and I pray that no matter what you are facing at the moment, whether pain or sorrow, joy or sadness you will remember that hill outside the city wall where Jesus hung on that tree. His death and resurrection gave us hope and the promise of eternal life. His love did not die, and we are now his saplings.
In The Bulb There Is A Flower; In The Seed, An Apple Tree;
In Cocoons, A Hidden Promise: Butterflies Will Soon Be Free!
…
…
From The Past Will Come The Future; What It Holds, A Mystery,
Unrevealed Until Its Season, Something God Alone Can See.
In Our End Is Our Beginning; In Our Time, Infinity;
In Our Doubt There Is Believing; In Our Life, Eternity,
…
( Words and music by Natalie A Sleeth)
Sheila Hall – Lead Trustee Finance
