Happy First Day of Spring! Here in the northern states, the weather is beginning to warm back up, and buds are beginning to emerge from where once empty branches were. As someone who experiences the winter blues, the toasty sun rays on my face and the cool breeze running through my hair is a fantastic sensation. The rise of temperature offers almost a sense of relief. Don’t get me wrong, I get my fair share of enjoyment out of the winter months. Snowy Christmases, cuddling near a fireplace, sledding! However, after a while, it becomes more and more challenging to deal with the frigid temperatures.
It’s similar to the seasons of our spiritual life. Throughout our lifetime we will experience sunnier seasons and cooler seasons. Then, there are those seasons we will encounter that will be bitter cold. Barely feeling like we can make it another day, we may be tempted to let the iciness harden our hearts. Rather than give in to this temptation, we should use this season as a time of reflection rather than heedlessness.
After Winter, comes Spring. The sun rises, the ice melts, and the flowers begin to grow. Hope arises. Where death once was, life begins again.
Isn’t it fitting that we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord, the one who conquers death, during Spring?
As we prepare for Easter during this Lenten season may we be reminded that, in Jesus, after death is life. After despair, may there be hope. And the next time when we are spiritually in the thick of winter, may we offer up our sufferings to the Lord and look forward to the promise of Eternal Life to come, the ultimate Spring.
“… for behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance.” – Song of Solomon 2:11-13
Leave a Reply