Teenage Oak

Sketch a day - Day 135/365

There are some oak and beech trees that are really important to me in the valley where I live.

This teenage Oak tree, that lives on a little moor overlooking Micklethwaite, is one of them. It and another one that sits a little further down the hillside (not drawn today but also a dear pal) are friends that I like to visit and say hi to. When I want to be inspired to feel courage and determination I come to these teenage oaks. They are not awesome, wise or majestic (other oaks and beech trees are my go tos on the other side of the valley when I need that kind of inspiration). These young oaks are plucky, stubborn, energetic, valiant friends. They have set up camp on a hillside where there is zero relief from the elements. In the winter they are smashed around by wind rain hail and snow. But they go on. And they do it beautifully.

So today, on my inaugural MAP stride for Palestinians I took the route that would take me to them. And I had a cuddle with this one that I have drawn. And I thanked it for being here and doing it's work for our planet. Work that we humans only begin to understand a fraction of. I thanked it for being beautiful. And bold. I told it that it is an inspiration for me, setting off on these walks. And then I stood with it and thought about what is happening in Palestine. And I wished for a day when there is justice, forgiveness and finally peace.

And that's the news.