Spring

Today is the first day of spring.  March 20.  Why it's not tomorrow on the 21st which I thought was spring equinox, I'm not sure.  Either way, a new season is upon us!

I love new seasons.  I love spring.  I won't say it's my favorite season because I can be largely noncommittal when it comes to favorites.  I LOVE spring, but if I say it's my favorite, what about summer? And fall? And winter? (Ok - definitely NOT winter, though I like a good snow once in while, but summer and fall would give spring a run for its money!)  

Favorite or not, spring has something wonderfully special about it.  There is something about the new beginning and fresh start of it that stirs my heart.  I love these lines from Nichole Nordeman's song Every Season:  

And everything that's new has bravely surfaced, teaching us to breathe.  

What was frozen through is newly purposed, turning all things green.  

So it is with you and how you make me new with every season's change,  

And so it will be as you are recreating me...summer...autumn...winter...spring.

There are a million things about spring that leave me a little speechless:  the beautiful, flowering trees we have here in Virginia (The dogwoods haven't bloomed yet, but they're my favorites!), the bright green color of brand new leaves starting to appear, the smell of lawns being mowed for the first time of the season, the promise of the warmer weather and the longer days to come, the power of a thunderstorm bringing the rains that keep things growing, flowers popping up in places they were all but forgotten like little surprises all over, and most of all, the picture all this is of the amazing redemption of the Lord.  

Just like the season gets to start new, so do we.  When we invite Jesus into our hearts and let him wipe our sinful slate clean, he lets us have a spring of our own.  I don't have to live in darkness or gloom.  I can have the joy of sunshine and the beauty of the most stunning spring blossom.  Forgiveness is overwhelming.  I don't deserve it ever, even for a minute, but it is so freely offered to us to are willing to accept it.  I am beyond thankful for the steadfast love of Christ and the forgiveness He offers.  New leaves aren't just for the trees in my yard; they're for people, too.  And it's not just a one-time deal either.  He doesn't give up on me, and he's there to offer me a new beginning every morning.  These are the things that stir my heart in the springtime.    

So today ushers in spring, and it was a perfect day for it complete with a day of sunshine and an evening of those strong and loud thunderstorms.  This spring, amid these sunny-rainy-cheery-blooming-green-growing days, I am especially moved by the peace I find in the forgiveness of my Lord, the promise of new beginnings, and the surprises of the future.

"Let us press on to know the Lord;

his going out is sure as the dawn;

he will come to us as the showers,

as the spring rains that water the earth."

Hosea 6:3

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Sometimes there are thoughts and prayers and excitement welling up in me, but I can't seem to find the words to express them. Like right now for instance, there are a handful of things going on in and around me that I just want to sing about or be mad about or rejoice about, but the ability to express them seems to escape me. 

There are people I know who are hurting, who seem to be making wrong choices, who are facing unimaginable challenges, but I feel at a loss for words to reach out to them or to support them or to confront them.

There are answers to prayers that have been prayed for a long time that seem to be coming down the pipeline, that are beginning to make themselves known, but I can't even express my excitement and thankfulness the way I feel like I want and need to.

I know this is all vague and what not, but, like I said, I can't seem to find the right words.  In lieu of my own words, I will sing the song of praise that Daniel sang when the Lord revealed to him the king's dream and its interpretation and spared the lives of him, his friends, and all the wise men of the land.

He has everything in his hands.  The good.  The bad.  The confusing.  The exciting.  The times.  The seasons.  The kings.  Wisdom.  Understanding.

Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, 

to whom belong wisdom and might. 

He changes times and seasons; 

he removes kings and sets up kings; 

he gives wisdom to the wise 

and knowledge to those who have understanding; 

he reveals deep and hidden things; 

he knows what is in the darkness, 

and the light dwells with him.  

To you, O God of my fathers, 

I give thanks and praise, 

for you have given me wisdom and might, 

and have made known to me what we asked of you, 

for you have made known to us the king's matter.

Daniel 2:20-23

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