Words of Light and Hope from Tony Foottit

Words of Light and Hope from Tony Foottit.

Orpine (Sedum telephium) – Simon and Jude.

Orpine is a sedum or stonecrop. The name orpine is derived from that of    a metal, because it has great powers of survival, not only on rocky banks where it grows especially in the north of Britain, but its seed heads happily survive the onslaughts of winter. In fact one of its names is Everlasting. Saxifrages and stonecrops are cousins of orpine. It has many exotic relations – the tulip tree, magnolias and cassia (source of one of the ointments which Joseph used to embalm the body of Jesus), avocados, cinnamon and nutmeg. Orpine has pairs of leaves which are not evenly spaced. On 28 October the Church honours two little known saints – Simon and Jude. They are an unlikely pair. Simon was a zealot, a member of a group of political terrorists. Jude is a patron of lost causes and some people seek his help when they have lost a precious possession. When you have lost something you need the virtue of patience. Jude was a brother of Jesus and author of the short letter in his name. Zeal and patience are both valuable virtues for any enterprise and are often needed in equal measure but can so easily be in conflict.

Conflict or tension is a normal part of human life. Although conflict is occasionally necessary to resist wrongdoing, it can lead to anxiety, stress, guilt, anger and sorrow. It can escalate, especially if it is caused by greed or jealously. Friendly competition can deteriorate into real disagreement, which can then turn into hatred and even war. So conflict needs to be tackled rather than allowed to fester. It is best to keep one’s response under strict control. Jaw-jaw is better than war-war, as Churchill famously said….The Bible is often a source of conflict, usually between a literal, zealous interpretation and a more liberal, patient understanding. Simon and Jude – zeal and patience – we need them both but especially patience as we seek to help establish Jesus’ everlasting kingdom of peace in our conflict-ridden world.

A Calendar of Wild Flowers (part).

Thanks be to God for Saints Simon and Jude.