Spring?

If you were to walk by my office on a given day when I was typing up a section for this newsletter or when I was writing a post for my blog you probably would not see me at my computer. I have this strange fascination with the big south windows in my office. Actually it isn’t a fascination with the windows but what is on the other side of the windows that is usually grabbing my attention. Today is no different. I sat down, wheeled my chair over to the windows and watched the events of the morning unfold. I watched as rain showers fell from the heavens and bounced off buildings, and trees and a big, black tire that makes up part of our playground at the church. I watched as the birds went absolutely wild with delight as they bounced through puddles and stuck their beaks down the sodden earth. I watched as the grass began to reach out of its wintry casket and stretch toward the sky revealing it to be green once more.
Now even though this was a grey day with large clouds mediating between earth and sun, I thought it rather cheerful. A day like that puts me in a good mood. It puts me in a good mood because winter is vanishing, spring is coming. It puts me in a good mood because just as spring is arriving and helping us celebrate new life we too are given the opportunity in the church calendar to celebrate. Easter this coming Sunday and on that day we celebrate. We celebrate life and being. We celebrate the fact that Jesus climbed up from the grave to set the world right. And, we also celebrate the fact that when he did that he called us into a new life, a new creation, a new way to be people in this world. He showed us what life really looked like. And so, we celebrate together as a people who are ready to usher in life from God just like rain upon the earth ushers in spring. Now that is reason to celebrate.

Grace and Peace