The unseasonably hot weather has brought with it some unexpected phenomena. Twice during the night, we have been woken up by the sound of a distant chainsaw. Don’t worry, it’s not a real life horror story. No, on both occasions a large bough of a tree has fallen into the road and the Police have had to call out the Council Tree Surgeon to come and remove it. Thankfully no significant injuries have been caused to anyone by the falling branches.
This phenomenon has a name, it’s called summer branch drop. Experts think it’s caused when the trees lose more water through their leaves than they can replace from the soil, and this causes drought stress.
Having brought some fruit trees over from our last home, we have had to think carefully about where to plant them in the garden, and to make sure they’ve had enough water and attention in this dry spell. Time will tell whether it’s been enough!
Looking after trees, or a garden, is as much an art form as it is a science.
The Psalms recognise there’s something of this in the life of faith…
Happy are those who take delight in the Lord;
they shall be like the tree planted by streams of water, which yields fruit in due season.
These words are found in the first Psalm, an introduction to the whole book of Psalms, which itself is a no-holds-barred reflection on God, life and faith.
The twists and turns of the book of Psalms remind us that in all of life the often unseen work of faith is not a wasted effort. But rather, it produces an encouraging crop of fruit in its’ season!
Audrey Hepburn once said, ‘to plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow’. The book of Psalms reminds us that the same applies in planting seeds of faith.
