Dear Friends,

J.R.R Tolkien wrote a verse in The Lord of the Rings that I was reminded of recently:

The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken.
A light from the shadows shall spring…

These words came to mind when I was talking to someone about putting my garden to bed for the winter. They remarked that while it might seem like plants and trees are inanimate in the cold and wet months, this is when they are doing some of their best work. They will be sinking their roots deeper into the soil, building a strong foundation for the growth that is to come when spring and summer arrive, which they will. Deep roots are not reached by the frost. As this work begins, the leaves of deciduous trees are changing colour as they die, falling naturally, or with the help of autumn wind and rain. As they decompose, they provide a mulch for the trees. And, if we look closely, we will see that there are buds, even now, waiting to burst forth when the time is right.Evergreen trees remind us that even in winter, there is life: catkins, holly berries, pine cones. A light from the shadows shall spring.

We create our own light too in these seasons: candles, open fires, bonfires, fireworks. Roots and light remind us that there is life and growth even in dark seasons. For Christians, the movement through dark days to Advent serves as a reminder of the good soil of their faith and how it too can nourish and provide stability. Wherever we find the good deep soil to sink our roots into this autumn and winter, let’s remember that there is and will be life in that.

God bless,
Corin Redsell

(Associate Minister)