Fig Tree Inspiration by Nicky Wilkinson

Few things in life are as delicious as fresh figs straight from the tree (Maybe with some blue cheese?) 

To my great surprise when we moved to Sheffield, I found a fig tree in our garden, which produces a prodigious amount of fruit. What is still more extraordinary is the more it’s pruned, the more fruit grows! My fig tree came from Tunisia. It was planted in a bunch of rubble and rubbish as per the manual. It is a very counter-intuitive tree; and, sitting down at my computer to write, this tree inspires me. Thriving in difficult circumstances. Can my writing be like that – delicious and nourishing like figs – as I, too, push through rubble and rubbish?

 

Mists of self-doubt too often roll in. I scrap pages of what yesterday seemed brilliant and today doesn’t hang together. I was a seventies child who lived in a time when rote learning at school was eschewed, no grammar book for me. I remember the shame of not understanding the rules, never mind applying them. ‘Get to the point, use the right words, punctuate correctly!’ When my kids brought grammar books home, I was amazed there were rules for double consonants! 

Pushing back the desire to make another cup of coffee, dawdle over the steaming kettle, and choose a pretty cup, I tap on at my keyboard, expectant for inspiration and digging deep for the motivation to finish. It reminds me of the story of Jesus cursing the fig tree in the Bible. He was hungry, it was fruitless, it withered. Mark even adds that it was not the season for figs. It seems a little unfair! 

 

I need to remind myself I have authority when I pray. So, I ask, ‘Inspiration today, please!’ and keep digging deep, tapping at my keyboard.

Nicky Wilkinson is  new to writing. She  lives in Sheffield and is a member of Sheffield Scribblers. She lived abroad in the Czech Republic and Zimbabwe for 25 years. She worked for Feba Radio in Zimbabwe, and taught History at Chisipite Senior School in Harare. She adores her grandkids (hence residing in the UK) and is the Administrator for ACW.