Spring

In the early morning light, the dogwoods in bloom outside my window look like trees covered in snow. In time, it will be clear what time of year it is, but, for now, I’m enjoying the twist of appearance. I don’t wish for it to be winter, by any means, but thinking this way reminds me how deceiving things can be in the wrong light. It reminds me how much I prefer spring to winter.

It’s not a great leap for me to see how often I look out and think it’s winter when, in fact, it’s spring, how often I mistake a blossom for a storm. I’m sure I’m not alone in this, but in dim light, or from a distance, looks can be deceiving, in faith as well as in life.

When I gave up drinking, I was certain I’d never be happy or have a good time again. I was wrong. I have found a new happiness.

When I left a job, I thought my usefulness was over. In that lighting, I couldn’t see that I would begin using my talents in different ways.

In a particularly dark time, I couldn’t see the light that was on its way. All I saw was winter. Then the blossoms arrived.

Faith is all about believing in spring. Winter comes to us all, but the good news is that winter is how seasons change. Spring would not be possible if leaves didn’t change color and fall to the ground, blossoms would not be possible without the water provided by winter’s storms. 

It doesn’t change the winter, or the storms, but it does give us an opportunity to trust God knows what he’s doing. As we approach Easter, this is important to keep in mind. As we head toward Jerusalem, there are dark clouds on the horizon. Tables will be turned, friends will run away, an arrest will be made, and death will happen. In the dim light of Holy Week, it’s sometimes confusing. We can think it’s winter, but there’s more to the story than all that. In fact, there’s a glorious spring ahead, on the other side of winter.