Stumps of Promise

I love trees and, OK, I admit to hugging them when I think no one is looking. To put my arms around something that has stood for decades, even centuries, creates for me a profound connection to nature and therefore to God. Trees are living symbols of growth, survival, and a promise for generations to come.

For over 120 years, a magnificent Sycamore tree stood majestically in a gap along Hadrian’s Wall. I wish I had hugged that one. But in September 2023, the world was shocked when this gorgeous tree was chopped down in an act of mindless vandalism.

We hear about the Sycamore tree in the Bible. That was the one Zacchaeus climbed when he wanted to see Jesus. Maybe it represents our effort to reach up towards God.

Seeing this truly mighty tree in Northumberland reduced to just a mere stump, could make it feel as if those efforts have been in vain.

But the Bible also talks about a stump. 

The prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament speaks of the "stump of Jesse". This is a powerful image signifying that the once-mighty dynasty of King David, son of Jesse, would be cut down to nothing.

However at the same time, in Isaiah 11:1, the prophet also looks forward to a time when the one who God promised would deliver his people, would grow forth out of that stump.

 "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit".

This shoot is Jesus Christ, a descendant who emerged from King David’s seemingly dead royal line. 

This image of a new shoot sprouting from what looked like a dead stump can represent God’s power to bring life from the most bleak of circumstances.

It is the ultimate comeback, because a stump doesn’t have to be the end of the story. Instead, it is the foundation for a new beginning.

And in a perfect visual metaphor for this divine promise, the Sycamore Gap tree is showing signs of regrowth, thanks to the existing life and vitality in its roots. Twelve new shoots each with small leaves, were seen emerging from the base of the stump just ten months after the tree was felled.

This is not a return of the grand tree that once was, but a humble new beginning.

Christ too can be considered a humble new beginning of God’s plan, characterized by simplicity, poverty, and a lack of worldly status. Rather than being born in a palace, Jesus was born in a stable, surrounded by animals and placed in a manger, made of wood from a tree.

The theme of trees continues in the life of Jesus. He was raised by Joseph, who trained him in his trade as a carpenter and wood craftsman. 

Then, in his ministry, Jesus used trees as illustrations, to teach spiritual lessons on faithfulness and growth.

And of course, the tree of the cross is where our Saviour hung, revealing God's ultimate love to humanity.

And when he arose on Easter morning, Jesus became the new Tree of Life.

Some of the new saplings growing from the Sycamore Gap stump are being distributed as "trees of hope", and that too can serve as an illustration of how Jesus is spreading new life and hope.

And we need hope when faced with the current state of the world - significant military build-ups, global economic pressures, climate change, rising inequality, and the increasing mental health crisis amongst young people. The story of the Sycamore Gap tree is a powerful, real-world reminder that God can bring forth immense hope and new life from situations of utter despair.

The axe can leave a stump, but it cannot touch the root.

So I urge you if you can, to take a walk and think about God's surprising beginnings in your lives and in the world around us.  And yes, on the way find a tree that calls to you and give it a hug! As you feel that deeper connection to nature along with increasing feelings of calm, think about the Good News of the ultimate shoot from Jesse's stump - our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Written by Rekha John-Cheriyan. Rekha is an English actress of the stage and screen, and a Local Preacher in the Methodist Church.