Embracing Spring

"We loiter in Winter while it is already Spring."

- Henry David Thoreau in Walden

Last Sunday we celebrated Easter. It is a glorious day in which we proclaim the resurrection of Christ, and the gift of life that he, through it, offers us. It truly is life from death; Spring out of Winter.

And yet for so many of us, we seem to linger, or in the words of Thoreau, "loiter" in Winter rather than accepting the Spring. How many of us hang on to our old selves (because we are comfortable in it?) rather than accepting the new, better creation that is ours to become?

Susan Boyle has become an overnight sensation. The video of her performance on "You've Got Talent Britain" is an internet classic. And yet she did not develop this gift of song overnight. She has had it for years. She just chose to hide it away, because of a self-image that wrongly convinced her she was worthless. She lingered in Winter, even though Spring was within her. To see her now, accepting the gift of the Spring, and sharing it with the world, is a most joyful thing to witness. May it encourage all of us to do the same.

The old has gone. The new has come. Spring is here. Put away your Winter coat and enjoy the sun.

Isaiah 53:4-6

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Gethsemane

In a back corner of the Garden of Gethsemane, amongst the 2500+ year old olive trees that still bear fruit, you will find a small sculpture/relief embedded into an ancient stone wall. Both times I have been blessed to walk in that garden, the sculpture has grabbed my attention and mesmerized me.

What would I have done while Christ prayed? Would I have stayed awake and prayed for him? Or would I, like the disciples, have drifted off to sleep, and left him alone...foreshadowing the desertion to come.

Merciful God, grant me the strength to remain awake during this holy week at Christ's side. May I have the courage to journey with him to the cross. Amen.

Go to dark Gethsemane, all who feel the tempter's pow'r;

Your Redeemer's conflict see, watch with him one bitter hour.

Turn not from his griefs away - learn of Jesus Christ to pray.

Follow to the judgement hall, view the Lord of life arraigned.

O the wormwood and the gall! O the pangs his soul sustained!

Shun not suff'ring, shame, or loss - learn of him to bear the cross.

Calv'ry's mournful mountain climb; there, adoring at his feet,

Mark the miracle of time, God's own sacrifice complete.

"It is finished!" hear him cry - learn of Jesus Christ to die.

-James Montgomery, 1771-1854