Spring is on its way…

      

This is the tree outside my window at the church. 

I never really noticed it until last spring, 

when suddenly after having been full of purple flowers for weeks and weeks,

 one day I opened my blinds to see it bursting with green leaves 

which seemed to have appeared out of nowhere overnight. 

I remember being overwhelmed as I stood looking out the window

 and marveled at the way God’s creation is always experiencing transformation and new birth, 

even when we humans have nothing to do with it 

and it goes largely unnoticed by those of us who are too busy to stop and take note. 

Grace. 

The fact that God is constantly moving and working and loving us even when we can’t perceive it. That is just who God is- one who is in the business of making all things new, even the deepest winters of our own hearts and lives.

So needless to say, this year, 

I have been paying more attention to the tree. 

I stop by and look at it every day as I walk into the church. 

(As I think about it, people probably think I am crazy, 

laden down with bags and a cup of coffee, 

just standing there, staring up at a tree).

But in doing this, I noticed something that I had failed to see in my busyness last year. 

The lush green leaves did not just appear overnight and unawares as I had (foolishly) assumed. 

They were there all along. 

If you stop and look more closely at the picture above, 

you will see that the green leaves are already beautifully intermingled 

with the purple flowers. 

Signs of what is yet to be and signs of what has already been

 and soon will be no more- all together on the same branch.

Some might call it an in between time. Holy Saturday.

The already and not yet of spring that reminds us that new life is always just around the corner.

 Mostly, it just reminds me that some times not every part of our life 

is in the same season at the same time.

 Some parts of us have bloomed into spring and summer

 while other parts are still trudging through winter. 

Some parts of us have long since moved on while some parts are still struggling to let go.  

Seeing the green and purple flowers managing to co-exist so beautifully on the same branch

 reminds me that we must somehow learn to let all of our already/not yet/in-between/seasons

 of our own lives co-exist together as well. 

Trust in the beauty that tells us spring is on its way. 

Look closely to see signs of new life springing up all around you. 

Be amazed at what happened when you weren’t paying attention.

 Trust the process even if you can’t understand it. 

And know that even if you are too busy to take notice, it is still there. 

God is still moving, working and creating. 

Grace is still alive and well.  

Spring is coming. 

Thanks be to God.