I love spring. There is something magical about the greening that happens as the trees burst into bloom and then leaf out in the most brilliant spring green. Spring is also filled with flowers of all kinds from azaleas to daffodils, to tulips, hyacinths, and so many more. There is a profusion of colors. The flowers and plants that explode into life will depend on where you live too. In Florida, my orchids are growing and sending up new shoots. I can hardly wait to see their spectacular blooms bursting forth. I also see evidence of my rainbow curcuma. Its blooms are gorgeous! I am looking forward to seeing them again.
In Ohio, where I am on vacation right now, my azaleas are unbelievable. The entire plants are covered in bright pink blossoms. I just missed seeing my daffodils and I discovered I have a tulip plant in my yard…which I moved today. My hydrangeas are peeking out from the ground, and they will be spectacular throughout the summer. I also discovered that my flame azaleas are growing back up from the roots. Last fall, I had to cut them down because most of the branches were dead. I was so happy to see new growth this year and look forward to seeing them continue to delight with their bright orange flowers over the next few years.
I think what I like most about spring is the newness of life. Like the flowers in my gardens, we also see all the animals giving birth to the next generation. It is a promise of hope for the future. That is, as bleak as things may seem right now, spring lets us know that something new is just around the corner. We just need to be patient and wait to see what happens.
But waiting doesn’t mean not doing. God calls us to see the world as God sees the world. To hear the cries of the least, last, and lost among us. When we hear them and see the people as God sees them, we can begin to ask questions. Questions like: Why does this situation exist? Many times, the issues in our world that marginalize people are because our laws are stacked against them. It is like the laws of Israel that Jesus pushed against. Why was it unlawful to heal someone on the Sabbath? Jesus taught that the sabbath was not made to be a burden on people but to encourage people to take time away to enjoy the fruits of their labors. Healing as well as other activities should be allowed when they show God in all God’s glory.
Sabbath exists to remind us that work is not everything. We forget that we need playtime too. We need time to enjoy ourselves with family and friends. Time to spend doing the things that bring us joy, just as the earth itself erupts in joy every spring. Sabbath is also time to spend with God our creator not just worshipping God but also spending time with God as our friend. Because more than anything, I believe that God wants to be friends with all humanity. God wants us to talk to God about everything going on in our lives just like we do our closest friends. God wants to hear our joys, our anguish, our sorrows and pain. God wants to be part of our celebrations and God wants us to share what makes us happy.
As we think about spring, this season of newness, what is new in your life? What do you want to be new? What do you need to let go of in order to allow something new to enter into your life? Most importantly, what brings you joy?
I am getting ready to retire in June. I am thinking a lot about what will happen once I retire. I am thinking a lot about what will be new. It is a very exciting time. I look forward to all the new things that will come my way as I enter into the second half of life. It is a good space to be…
Peace,
Beth
Beth's Blog 