The coming of spring and the hope that it brings during these difficult days is the theme of the Rt Rev Anne Dyer’s regular column in the Press & Journal newspaper.

The Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney talks about green shoots visible in the frozen ground, and the new life coming that is entirely beyond our control.

“If ever there was a time when hope is needed, surely it is now,” writes Bishop Anne. “For those of us for whom belief and spirituality are important, then our hopes are rooted in the saying of our prayers and believing in a higher power who loves us.

“For others it might mean looking on the bright side, seeing the best in any situation, being especially thankful for the words and actions of others which build harmony and peace.

“Hope is a precious thing, not something that we can grasp with our hands, but something more ephemeral. It has to be protected and nurtured.”

She concludes: “The tiny green shoots in my garden tell me that hope starts small and grows. The blossoming of a garden suggests that lots of tiny hopes build together into a force that moves people forward towards a better future.

“The occasional blue skies and sun on my face, even in Aberdeen in January, cause me to look up expectant of good days not too far ahead.

“I can’t help it, I am hopeful.”

The full article can be read here.