April Snow

My kids looked out yesterday and said, "Dad! I thought it was spring! But there is snow all over the place. Will we ever see warm weather again?" I assured them that we would indeed see warm weather and that an April snow never lasts long. But it does bring a certain melancholy. Things were beginning to green up. Buds were swelling on the trees and shrubs. There were shoots of all kinds of plants starting to poke their way up through the soil. Birds were singing. The new life of spring was starting to be felt. The weather was warm. And while the first snow of winter is beautiful and exciting, a late spring snow is still beautiful, yet dreary. We don't want to see the gray skies anymore. We want to see the bright blue sky, the electric green grass and leaves, the rainbow colors of flowers. Black and white just comes up short when you are getting excited about spring.

Sometimes this is exactly what we go through as a church. We start to see signs of new growth. We start to see excitement. And then a snow storm hits. For me, personally, the metaphorical snow storm has come by the news of some loved-ones in Christ going home. Now, I don't mean this to be depressing and I am not depressed by the news, but I would have loved to sit down with some of these people who have known me all my life and tell them about what God is doing. I am elated that all of these elderly saints have passed out of their pain into God's light. I know that they are better off; that their pain is gone; that their minds have been refocused. I know that they are at the feet of the One they always lead me to, Jesus. They were my elementary -years, Sunday School teachers. They watched me grow up. They ached when I strayed and they rejoiced when I came back to what they had taught me about obedience to Almighty God. They are in a better place, no doubt, but I still miss them. I long to fellowship with them again and I will, but not in this lifetime. I long for Spring.

Lord, wake me up from my slumber like the budding of a tulip in the spring. Take the dreariness of the gray skies and snowy terrain away. Help me to see, and to live, according to your beauty. And please bring the growth of you Kingdom through my (and my church's) efforts. Thank you. Amen.