See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
 Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.

Song of Songs 2:11-12

 

Just outside our building is a walkway lined with ornamental cherry trees. What a joy it was this spring to see blossoms come out when we’d had so much rain! I took full advantage of it. For five days in a row I went out, spending time beneath those blooms, trying my best to capture the wonder of it with my camera. I didn’t want to miss any of it.

Standing underneath the pale pink blossoms with the sunshine pouring over them overwhelmed me. Pointing my camera up into the magical canopy was a thrill. Humbled under this virtual heaven was like worshiping. For a moment of childlike imagination and wonder I thought of what a wonderful place this would be for angels to hide.

This is part of springtime’s celebration, a celebration of new life and growth. It’s something we very much need after a cold and dark winter. And it seems that the way spring sunshine brings blossoms to the trees, God’s sun shines inside us too, bringing new beginnings and hope. He encourages us to leave behind all that was distressing and gloomy.

As I look up into that heaven, I can’t help but feel lifted up – up from where I had been for far too long. Wonderful how God gives us nature to help us respond in this way. Quite amazing how He is reflected in the beauty we see around us.

In the way the natural world celebrates and goes through rebirth, we too can experience renewal when we consider Jesus Christ and His resurrection and what that means to us. In an Easter sermon, Rev. Kit Billings reminds us that “every one of these wonderful blessings associated with spring represent and reveal to us the positive and beautiful changes that happen to us when the Lord comes to us anew and afresh!”

Are you feeling distant from the renewal Christ can give, even now? Not quite able to take in what it is He offers? Don’t despair. God is with you. His sunshine is entering your heart, prodding seeds that are lying dormant, waiting for the moment when they too will begin their growth. Give them time. There’s promise in those seeds.

God has not forgotten you.