Hope through Gorse

An Easter Reflection for the Weeks After Easter

This reflection aired on Easter Sunday on BBC Radio Ulster. You can listen to it here

On my daily walks, it’s been impossible not to notice the gorse that has flowered in the last few weeks. The pop of yellow blossoms dots the countryside around me and lines the roads I stroll on every day. And if you’ve ever gotten close enough to gorse, you’ll know that aside from its vivid yellow color, its best characteristic is its incredible smell.

I’ll never forget the day someone said, “Did you know that gorse smells like coconut?” I didn’t believe them until I checked it out for myself, and then I was struck with such a sense of wonder. How could something so thorny and inhospitable-looking smell so sweet? So whenever I pass a gorse bush on the side of the road, especially on the delightfully sunny days we’ve been having, you might well catch me sticking my nose in to take a whiff – I just can’t help it.

On one of my walks recently, I was hurried and stressed, carrying what felt like the weight of the world on my shoulders. It may have been sunny outside, but a dark cloud hung over me. It was then that the long branches of a gorse bush on the road beside me seemed to reach out and draw me in (it was actually one of the branches that had been missed by the hedge-cutter).

But suddenly, I was enveloped, captivated by the gorse bush’s brilliant color and wonderful fragrance. I stopped in my tracks and lingered there for a few moments, and when I carried on with my walk, I felt… different. The dark cloud over me had shifted, and I was able to enjoy the gorgeous sunshine. The weight of the world felt lighter, and the spring returned to my step.

It's Easter Sunday today, a day when Christians remember Jesus’ resurrection – hope rising up when it didn’t seem possible. We’re living in a time when many of us feel like we’re carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. We hear about war and injustice, upheaval and uncertainty, and we can feel helpless and distressed as we take in the news on a daily basis. It’s at times like these that we so desperately need those reminders of hope emerging where it doesn’t seem likely.

So this Easter week, the yellow gorse that smells of coconut has become for me a reminder that even something thorny and inhospitable can transform into something vibrant and fragrant. A reminder that despite the world’s brokenness, there is still beauty. When I stop and smell the gorse in the days ahead, I’ll be reminded that even in the midst of upheaval and uncertainty, new life and hope will always spring forth.

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This reflection was a part of a series on BBC Radio Ulster called Thought for the Day. It’s an honor to be among the many wonderful speakers who share their thoughts each day.

You can listen to the recorded version here

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May you find symbols of new life and hope springing forth in the world around you.

Easter blessings,

Kiran