For years fall has been my favorite season. A good friend likens fall to “hoodies and holding hands.” There is something about fall. It’s the crispness in the air, sitting around bonfires, college football, and holding hands with your love. Yet, as I sit in the house in March, with 12 inches of snow on the ground, I’m realizing that I’m becoming increasingly fond of spring. It’s not here yet – but I’m so looking forward to its arrival.
As a kid spring was always the precursor to summer. Summer, of course, translated to no school. Perhaps that’s why, for years, I was never fond of the spring time frame. April and May dragged on while kids remained confined to their desks, nearly bursting with anticipation of summer break. Now spring holds a reality which is not just seasonal, but also spiritual. As the trees begin to bud, the grass stars turning green, and the smell of new life hangs heavy in the air – spring represents newness. After the shortened days and cold winter nights, spring is the song of longer light and rebirth.
The spiritual correlation is apparent. And, this also being Holy Week, it’s fitting to not only acknowledge the coming of spring, but also to reflect upon the newness of life offered through Christ’s death and resurrection. The Bible says it this way: This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Cor 5:17 (NLT)
For as long and dark and cold as winter may have been, spring is coming. And for as much as you and I have messed up, God is a God of consistent grace and mercy who takes us at our worst and offers us new life in Him. This wasn’t made possible by an accomplishment on our own, but rather because of Jesus who gave of Himself on our behalf. For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Cor 5:21 (NLT)
Don’t let your winter keep you from spring. If Easter teaches us anything, it is that there is life beyond the grave, hope beyond our failures, and an extravagant God who offers us newness in Him. May the newness of spring touch our hearts in fresh ways this year. May you celebrate Easter this year with exuberance and joy, thankful for the One who died and rose that we may live life to the full.
Happy Easter,
DP