Even in Winter the Soul Can Blossom

Deryn van der Tang

Charcoal, Photograph

Inspired by Psalm 92:14–15, this work reflects the beauty of spiritual vitality in old age. The gnarled pear tree outside the window of an old age home I once managed seemed barren—yet each spring it bloomed and bore fruit. It reminded me of the residents: bodies worn by time, but souls radiant with faith and wisdom. This drawing honors them—symbols of resilience, grace, and light shining through darkness.

The photograph captures that quiet hope—the stillness before the blooming, the soul’s persistence through seasons of loss. These coppiced trees, cut low and bare, stood silhouetted in winter’s dim light. Yet from those cut stems, new life would emerge in spring—reminding me that even when we are brought low, we still hold the promise of renewal.