Laurie and I continue to enjoy our walks through the countryside. We are amazed at the rate at which everything is growing. Where a few weeks ago we walked along relatively clear paths with cow parsley brushing our ankles, it is now almost shoulder high. The fields that had small plants which we assumed to be broad beans, now are flower clad plants (definitely broad beans!) that are knee high. Likewise, the corn in the wheat field. At the beginning of March bare earth, then rows of delicate green shoots and then a split in the leaves and now signs of grain bursting out into the open. Our parks and gardens sharing too, in the miracle of growth.

Our grandchildren, ever committed to keeping the extended family together during these months, set us all a challenge. We were each delivered six sunflower seeds to be planted on a particular day and at an exact time. A family sunflower growing competition! Sadly five of our seeds planted with care and determination, became food for the squirrels, but thankfully the sixth is shooting up sky wards by inches everyday.

The changes seem to take place imperceptibly, yet we will all probably have enjoyed seeing vastly speeded up films of plants growing – days reduced to seconds.

To me these changes are a sign of encouragement, excitement and new life.

It reminds me of some words from the Easter Hymn written by John Crum in 1872

Now the green blade riseth, from the buried grain,

Wheat that in dark earth many days have lain.

Love lives again that with the dead has been

Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.

When our hearts are wintry, grieving or in pain

Jesus’ touch can call us back to life again.

Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been,

Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.

Jesus likens the Kingdom of Heaven to a seed growing quietly. You hardly notice it growing.

I pray that the Holy Spirit of God is growing quietly within us that we might bear much fruit - the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self- control.

I wonder how much growing we have done in our relationship with God and with each other and with ourselves, in these past months and weeks despite it feeling that sometimes we are on stony ground.

Jenny Jeffery