Easter Beauty, Easter Questions

In the modest garden of our house we have an apple tree. We have enjoyed it so much. Its intricate bare branches are sharp against the sky in winter. But now, as in every Spring, it boasts a subtle covering of fresh green growth, which bursts briefly into glorious white-pink blossom. Last year it astonished us with the number of apples it produced. Sharp in flavour, they have supplied us with fruit for months.

We have enjoyed our tree. We have had parties in its shade, planted bulbs around its base and admired it in every season. It is there in so many of our family photographs. And, like many trees, it has hosted cats, squirrels and all the small birds delighting in the seeds we dangle carefully amid its greenery.



But our tree is old. It has a huge and growing hole in its trunk, which we can do nothing about. It is leaning and shedding the occasional branch.

In our lovely season of Easter what might our apple tree tell us about ourselves, our faith, our future? And how to live thankfully, joyfully and bravely?

Some words from an old carol:

The tree of life my soul hath seen,                                          

Laden with fruit and always green;                                          

The trees of nature fruitless be,                                       

Compared with Christ the Apple Tree.

His beauty doth all things excel,                                                 

By faith I know but ne’er can tell                                                       

The glory which I now can see,                                                       

In Jesus Christ the Apple Tree……