Springtime

Since we moved into our home in the winter, we didn’t know what plants would come up in the spring. I was so excited last week to see tulips and crocuses peeking out, and lots of blue skies and sunshine to accompany them.

It is springtime . . . a time of new life and new beginnings. A time of Lent, and choosing to go through some sort of wilderness to remember and anticipate Christ’s death and resurrection. On Sunday one of our pastors opened Isaiah 35 and said to read it through the lens of the cross.

The desert and the parched land will be glad: the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. . . .

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. . . .

The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

It made me think of a verse of that old hymn, "And Can It Be That I Should Gain?"
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

May our hearts find this to ring true during this season of Lent.