The Rowan Tree

Oh rowan tree, oh rowan tree,
Thou'lt aye be dear to me,
En twin'd thou art wi' mony ties
O' hame and infancy.
Thy leaves were aye the first o' spring,
Thy flow'rs the simmer's pride;
There was na sic a bonnie tree
In a' the countrie side.
Oh rowan tree.

How fair wert thou in simmer time,
Wi' a' thy clusters white,
How rich and gay thy autumn dress,
Wi' berries red and bright.
On thy fair stem were mony names,
Which now nae mair I see;
But thy're engraven on my heart,
Forgot they ne'er can be.
Oh rowan tree.

We sat aneath thy spreading shade,
The bairnies round thee ran,
They pu'd thy bonnie berries red,
And necklaces they strang;
My mither, oh! I see her still,
She smiled our sports to see,
Wi' little Jeanie on her lap,
And Jamie on her knee.
Oh rowan tree.

Oh there arose my father's prayer
In holy evening's calm;
How sweet was then my mother's voice
In the Martyr's psalm!
Now a'are gane! We meet nae mair
Aneath the rowan tree,
But hallowed thoughts around thee
Turn o'hame and infancy.
Oh rowan tree.

by Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne (1766-1845)

In Scotland today it is still common to find a rowan tree, near the entrance to a house, and arises from an old superstitious belief that the tree offered protection from evil spirits and that the slender leaves, red berries and white blossom represented femininity, birth and life. Like so many of these ancient beliefs, the early church adopted these Celtic ideas to convert the people to Christianity. In my view, this has had the unfortunate effect, over the centuries, of 'muddying the waters' of the Gospel message.

Yet these things persist for so many of us; a sentimental clinging to notions introduced to us when children. They provide a link to our personal history and to the traditions in which we were raised. I am proud to be Scots, and love seeing a Rowan, because it was something my mother loved and meant something to her. Perhaps it is in our DNA to feel such things. Ultimately it is of the earth and will pass away. Thus It profits me nothing seems to be the conclusion.

We need to discern the difference between sentiment and the things that The Lord gives us for our instruction and to draw us closer to Him. Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding; for I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law. When I was my father’s son, tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live. [Proverbs 4:1-4 NKJV]

I shall leave you to meditate on this, for this is something which we each need to consider for ourselves. What is the spirit behind ideas that we hold dear. What is The Lord saying to me about this thing or that thing? There are some things in His creation that the Lord surely gives us for our enjoyment, but these are to be held lightly - they are transient, but they lift the spirits and let us see Him and wonder. A foretaste maybe, of the glories to come in the everlasting with Him.

PRAYER: Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Help me to see clearly, as You would desire me to see, with Your eyes, O Lord and not my own. In Jesus name, Amen.

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“The Rowan Tree” — sung by Kenneth McKellar

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OSWALD CHAMBERS — RUN TODAY’S RACE
Sunday 13th September 2020
The heredity of the Son of God is put into me at regeneration, a life neither time nor death can touch.

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