Sacrifice gives way to life–a tale of the humble quince

Wealth without work
Pleasure without conscience
Science without humanity
Knowledge without character
Politics without principle
Commerce without morality
Worship without sacrifice.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

(ripened quince / Julie Cook / 2014)

I have 4 quince bushes planted along our bank.
They are some of the first plants which begin bearing a glimmer of life after the long, grey, empty and very dormant winter.
Deep rich and luscious greens accented by beautiful magenta and coral flowers are the first colors in my yard when everything else is still gripped in the grey shadows of death and decay which continues to hold fast to all hope.

That’s what the quince do, they offer hope.
Just as soon as the tiny rays of life slowly unfurl from the little quince, I know that the remaining trees and plants will soon follow suit.
The quince is the standard bearer of the yard, a heralder trumpeting, for all to hear, that hope and life are soon at hand.

This time of year however is a different story.
Pale yellow grey spotted globules nestle closely against spindly little barren brown sticks.
With the waning of the calendar year, so wanes the quince.
All the leaves have fallen off, leaving the scrawny limbs dotted with grey speckled lemon like fruit.
Not the pettiest sight.

My husband always threatens to cut the quinces down as he’s convinced the plants are dead.
And I in turn must always explain that the bushes are not dead but rather simply entering a time of decline.
This “season,” in the life of the quince, is the time when the bush drops its leaves— leaves which are expendable allowing the quince to concentrate all remaining nutrients and energies into the growth and flourishing of fruit—as the fruit is what ensures the plant’s survival, as the fruit contains the seeds to new life.

Heralder of Hope
Sacrificer of self
Focuser of energies
Offerer of renewal and that which sparks the emergence of new life
Guaranteer of survival, everlasting

The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

John 3:31-36