It's coming

Spring is coming. I’m declaring it after observing several things you, too, might have noticed.

I was on the phone with a friend this morning and could hear birds tweeting in the background. She was sitting outside and didn’t notice, but I could hear them almost as clearly as her voice! The temperatures are creeping up. Just a bit, but each day a little more. Then there’s the time change coming Saturday. Yep. My revelation for you.

Photo by Mark Olsen on Unsplash

I know, I know, you’re thinking, what the heck, Cathy, is that your message today? The weather? Well, no, it’s not my only message. But the beauty of spring is special, despite the obvious new life that seems to come with it. I’m aware there’s also pollen, wind, and not-so-good UV rays. But let’s put that aside.

Spring occurs during Lent. Christians strip away what is excessive; we sacrifice, pray more, and offer ourselves and gifts to others. Like spring, we give of ourselves, pick up the crosses we carry, and unite them with Christ as we remember how He carried His to Calvary. We take away the excesses, like the flower buds that grow and then fall off, making room for the fruit. Our time of giving shifts into a new habit, and we change, like spring, from merely being alive to being vibrant and life-giving. Our time of hibernating is over; darkness is lessened, and light lasts longer.

God’s grace provides all this as a gift; He showers us with cleansing rains, and flowers pop up. The things we denied ourselves aren’t as important anymore, and we recognize that God needs to be at the top of our priority list. It’s not that we can’t have certain things; it’s about moderation and where they fall within our vocations.

Last week, while reading and reflecting on the Divine Intimacy meditations, we covered conversion, sin, venial sin, imperfections, examination of conscience, and Confession. All these posts shared a recurring theme of examining ourselves as we interact with the world and with each other. They are meant to help us recognize the gift of God’s grace when we turn from power, pleasure, and possessions and instead turn back to God for all that we need. I hope you’ll take a look at these blog posts here and leave a comment with your thoughts to share with other readers.

Spring has sprung! I hope you are feeling the effects and can get out to enjoy it soon!