The Holy Bible. Photo: Joshimer Biñas, pexels.com
In recent weeks a gardening challenge has been on my mind. It began when I was kindly being gifted a lovely olive tree that had been growing in a terra-cotta pot.
Murray Smith
Placed on lawn at the fringes of a pretty garden, this potted tree over years had grown to the point of splitting its container and bursting out of it. The tree’s roots eagerly advanced without confinement, infiltrating surrounding soil, slowly thrusting aside broken pieces of pottery. Strong roots well and truly established the olive tree. However, being crowded amidst other plantings, thriving there was limited.
Accordingly, I embarked on researching necessary steps for successfully transplanting and re-establishing a mature olive tree. Although known for being hardy, there’s no guarantee that a casual approach will ensure a good result.
Pre-watering led to digging around the perimeter, severing several large roots while carefully ensuring a healthy root ball remained – then pruning back foliage, ready for a digger to ‘scoop’ the tree from where it had made its home. It’s now re-located and I’m trying to carefully attend to “Oliver’s” welfare and looking beyond the crinkly-brown foliage – evidence I was pre-warned about, of the tree ‘sulking’ a bit while it ‘acclimatises.’ Meanwhile I wait… and pray.
Olive trees are remarkable, having enhanced the lives of the ancients (oil, fruit, wood) over centuries and there’s rich symbolism attached to them. I’ve enjoyed seeing olives growing throughout Europe, the Middle East and a special place called the ‘Mount of Olives’ in East Jerusalem.
Here lies the Garden of Gethsemane, famous for being where Jesus was betrayed by Judas, leading to His arrest and subsequent crucifixion on a Roman cross. As Easter, the time of the Passover, approaches, these events come into keen focus. In this spot there are numerous very old olive trees. They are known for their gnarled, twisted trunks and studies date many at around 1000 years old. Despite their age they continue to produce fruit. Claims that some exceed twice that age may have substance, as tests suggest they are descendants of much older root systems.
It’s interesting that in various ways the Bible likens olive trees to people – actually in too many ways to mention in this space. Metaphorically, olive trees flourishing is equated with promises and blessing upon the earth from heaven. In Psalm 52:8, King David declared, “I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the steadfast love of God forever.” The olive tree, with its life-giving roots and evergreen leaves, is a symbol of endurance, peace, covenant blessing, and fruitfulness.
The following graphic Biblical quote describes how not everyone chooses an ‘olive-like’ life…“Anyone putting their trust in human resources, drifting away from God, ends up without His help – like a stunted shrub in the desert, without hope for the future; living in a barren wilderness, good times pass them by. But people trusting and putting their confidence and hope in the Lord, are blessed like a tree planted along a riverbank, with well-watered roots —trees not bothered by heat or months of drought with leaves staying green, they go on producing good fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:5-8)
An ‘olive-like’ life..? That’s something we must choose.
