Lent - Day 25 and 26

“This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees,
Of skies and seas; His hand the wonders wrought.” Hymn (Babcock/Sheppard)

Isn’t the Spring a beautiful time of year? From where I sit, I can see the trees beginning to green, the perennials beginning to come out of the ground, the spring birds are migrating back and coming to the feeders (even the hummingbirds have made a couple brief appearances), the wisteria and dogwoods along Camp Creek highlight the running water with bright colors and the sky is just that pretty shade of blue that makes you feel glad to be outdoors.
A time of renewal, a time of life, a time of new beginnings. I’ve already spent some time lately in dividing and replanting various plants, moving a few things around at the edge of the woods, pruning and trimming shrubs and raking out old pine straw to put in new. Then, we’d go around and clear little spots in the straw for the new hostas, iris’ and other ‘things with shoots’ to have plenty of space to grow up into the sun.
Easter is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Christ from the tomb of death. Even the Son of God had to die for a period of time and leave the world in darkness and without hope. It was the winter of the world. However, on the third day after his death and burial, Christ arose from the grave. From death. From the darkness. And he came back to our world to prove, once and for all, that God was supreme and that His power could defeat even the final struggle. Death.
As you see the colors and new plants of Spring beginning to show their faces, as you see the trees fill out with bright leaves and the birds beginning to come back to feed, just remember the new beginning that Christ gave us. Created for us. Out of Love. And He did it for me. And you. And everyone who has ever been and who will ever be. Out of Love. Love.

Blessed be the name of the LORD!