Last weekend was the first weekend of March. And that always brings back memories for me. Growing up in northeast Iowa was always the time to know that many schools had an annual excursion to Des Moines, Iowa for the end of the sport of girls’ basketball season by attending the tournaments. One of our rival schools always seemed to be invited to the playoffs every year. And because we were neighboring districts, they seemed like relatives and we celebrated their wins with them even though our schools felt like enemies during the regular season. They went to Des Moines so many times that it seemed to be an annual event for them. And along with the trip to Des Moines to determine the winner of the state championship for girls’ basketball, it became tradition to know that it would be a weekend of nasty weather and with that, a good chance of a blizzard! Many girls had the experience of sleeping on the floor of the auditorium! And even a few were caught on the road in their buses! So many “fun” experiences were enjoyed by the “teams”, and it helped them become a group of sisters. After the tournaments, then spring could come!
As I start writing these thoughts, there is a hint that there might be a blizzard coming our direction in a few days. Okay, spring is going to be a bit late. Nevertheless, spring will come. God assures us that He has set up the seasons and there is a time for everything to happen, on time, or in His time. We can look for and watch for them to happen.
One of the things we now do annually in March is make a trip to the Mississippi River to look for eagles. We started this tradition quite by accident one year. We had gone for a Sabbath afternoon drive and ended up near one of the backwaters of the river. We discovered that there was still ice on the waters that had not yet broken up. And on the ice we discovered more eagles than we could count! They were interested in what the ice fishermen were catching and giving to them. Some were actually fishing for themselves. Others were interested in what they could steal from a fellow eagle. Many were resting in the trees watching the activities down below. Several nests were nearby. The next several years we took the opportunity to try to see if the eagles were gathering again. And nearly every year we were blessed with seeing them. This year, once again, we had another chance to make our now annual visit to a favorite place to see this wonderful display of God’s timing of the eagles return to that same spot year after year after year. And each year we are amazed and blessed by the instincts of the eagles.
We felt extra blessed this time! We learned that God put in the eagle’s brains to migrate when the time is right and for this area it is the first weekend of March. The eagles stay in this area for about 2 weeks, resting and feeding and waiting for the time to be right for them to go further north. Along with the eagles, the timing is right for many other birds. We saw groups of doves, ducks and gulls. We heard the Canadian geese so we knew they were also there. And surprising to us, probably not to others, we saw a large number of white pelicans. We had not seen them in other years. Some may not like them, but to us they were a fun addition to our trip. We watched and observed and were rewarded with seeing the eagles fishing as they swooped down to grab a fish from the water. We did some research and learned they were fishing for gizzard shad. That menu doesn’t appeal to me but must be desirable for the eagles. We saw one eagle steal a fish from another in mid-air. There are migrating eagles and there are also eagles that are permanent residents. They have nests that we could see since the trees don’t have leaves yet. Those nests probably had eggs in them and probably a mother or father doing parent duty.
We watch for signs of spring every year. One of the first signs is often the swelling of buds on trees and the sap in trees begins to move upward. In the past, we have collected sap from maple trees and enjoyed the syrup we made from it. It can be exciting when the ice begins to break up and move down river. One of the early spring things I have enjoyed is watching for the soft and gray and fuzzy appearances on willow bushes. The pussy willows are a sure sign of spring. My father would often stop on Sabbath afternoons so that we could see them. One Sabbath, I wanted to collect a few branches. My father loaned me his pocketknife and I reached out to a small group, carefully pulled the branches close and used the knife to cut them for myself. That knife slipped and cut a gash in my wrist. To this day, I can see the different layers of the wound in my wrist, the skin, blood, muscle, and most impressive to me, a layer of yellow that must have been a fat layer. Ugh! It is still clear in my mind after at least 60 years. I haven’t forgotten and I am reminded that God also doesn’t forget. He knows all about me—my good and my bad, my number of hairs, and the scars on my heart and my body. He wants to clean and heal every scar and wound I have—everyone. Another sign that spring has arrived is seeing certain birds. One bird species that comes back early in spring are the male red wing black birds. The males come first and steak out their home territory for a future nest. It can remind us of how God and Satan have marked their territory here on earth. One of the things we look forward to hearing are the spring peepers. And this year, Garry has heard them—already. Spring peepers are very small frogs, typically measuring between 0.75 and 1.5 inches long. They are about the size of a paperclip. Females are usually slightly larger than males. But they make a sound that would be likely to come from something much larger, maybe cow size! The Sound is a high-pitched, one-syllable whistle or “peep” repeated about 20 times a minute. When hundreds call together, the sound is often compared to the jingling of sleigh bells with the loudness of a lawn mower. But I love this early spring sound at night. I listen for it every year. But do I listen for God’s voice just as eagerly?
l love these and other signs of spring. Spring’s arrival is a wonderful reminder of God’s faithfulness and is like a promise of resurrection and new life after winter’s dormancy. The dormant seeds, bare branches, and, in some places, snowy landscapes give way to flowers and lots of different shades of green in all the different plant forms. God invites me to trust in His power to bring beauty from things that have looked so dead all winter long. The sudden, exploding from death into life of spring, is like a mirror of the resurrection hope, by transforming bleak, desolate landscapes into vibrant scenes. Like the predictable turning of the seasons, God’s love remains steadfast, even through the hardest, coldest seasons of our lives. As nature wakes up, we are invited to let our hearts blossom with new desires to renew a closeness with God, allowing Him to give us again hope and energy. Spring shows me a living picture for the new life I can find in Christ. Every budding leaf and flower blossom is a visual statement of life emerging from what seemed dead all winter long. Just as the earth gets refreshed by springtime rains, God’s mercies for me are new every morning, giving me a fresh start regardless of the previous season. The season’s timing often matches up with Easter and reinforces the message that just as winter cannot hold back the spring, the tomb could not hold Jesus.
The budding flowers and young leaves will soon grow to full size leaves and beautiful flowers to remind me to grow and mature in faith and let the “fruit of the Spirit” grow in me. When the signs of spring—the warmer breezes, the birdsongs, and the colors returning—I need to leave behind the winter of “desolate, isolating, and lonely” days and embrace the fresh, new beginning God has for me. The arrival of spring is a strong reminder of God’s faithfulness and the promise of resurrection.
Spring leads us to the idea of planting a garden. This transition into spring is an ideal time to examine our own “spiritual gardens”. Shall I plant some early onions and radishes and lettuce? Do I need to go shopping for these seeds? Do I need to prune the berries and trees? For growth to occur, dead branches of old habits or negative attitudes must often be removed. Did strong spiritual roots develop during the winter? The “winter” trials allow us to flourish and bear fruit when the season of spring blessings arrives. Just as a farmer waits for the spring rains, we are called to be patient, trusting that God’s timing for our growth is perfect. A true farmer knows his soil and plants. He knows when things are just right for planting and good growth. Just as God know when we are ready for planting and later, ready for harvest. God is a Master gardener and plants the seeds when the timing is just right. Bible verses tell me about Spring—Song of Songs 2:11–12: “See! Winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come.” Isaiah 43:19: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” Lamentations 3:22–23: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Spring speaks of God’s faithfulness in its timely arrival each year at the time appointed by God. Among the seasons, winter in its barrenness often feels unending; an unwanted guest overstaying their welcome. Spring’s predictability announces hope and promises comfort in knowing the austere passage of winter is but for a chosen time. With the unfolding of each new day’s gift of emerging new life, spring reminds me of God reigning over His creation. While each season proclaims God’s faithfulness in its arrival and unique characteristics, spring showcases the Creator’s faithfulness. The reality of the resurrection’s place in the season of spring, makes me marvel at God’s design in spring’s replicating the resurrection hope before our eyes each year. Trees, shrubs and plants prepare for the start of new life; robins, sparrows and wrens tirelessly build nests fit for welcoming offspring. Gazing upon the dead stalks of Jacob’s Ladder in our woodsy garden become speckled with tiny dark green leaves that reminds me that death’s defeat is certain. I love to find the first flowers of spring in the woodlands. I watch eagerly for my little hepatica flowers first as they resurrect.
Each spring arrives in God’s perfect timing, and this year is no different. The signs of spring’s arrival are promising! Any day now I expect to find the small crocus flowers and the blue glory of the snow flowers. The refreshing sights and sounds of spring bring winter to a close and new life is ushered in. Sweet breezes blow fresh air and bring the seasonal joy that begs to me as I venture outside between rain showers. You know that spring feeling—the desire to restore a crisp, clean feel to everything, purging the old and embracing the new. There is often an unexplainable urgency to scrub and declutter every nook and cranny with a new spirit. I want to join in by getting out the mops, brooms and dusters and vacuums—though my thoughts and my deeds might not agree.
When I saw the words “spring cleaning,” I thought about what might happen if I included thoughts of organizing and of refreshing me along with the house. I am a “list kind of girl,” so my spring thoughts quickly expanded. How does one “spring clean” her spirit? By applying the methods of seasonal housekeeping, the following ideas emerged as I studied. Perhaps you could use one or two? I know I needed them!
Purge any old attitudes and allow myself the freedom to move into a new season.
It’s easy to fall into maintaining a certain spirit continually, even if that train of thought doesn’t line up with God’s Word. What if I asked God to remove this attitude and embraced newfound spiritual independence to move forward? Ask Jesus to scrub my heart clean again as I request forgiveness and forgive myself. I remember a sermon about keeping short accounts with God. The pastor explained that being close to Jesus meant not only forgiving others but embracing forgiveness for myself. What about enjoying his grace anew? Clean out the cobwebs of negative thoughts. Grab a rag and dust “I can’t do this” and “This will never work” right out of the corner and into the trash. Discarding negative thought patterns and latching on to spiritual truths will deliver a renewed spirit. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to experience a vivacious, positive thought life? Take inventory of my spiritual routines and spruce them up as needed. Restore stale relationships by connecting and showing love again. Call a friend you haven’t seen in a while.
This spring let’s spend a little quiet time with God, maybe even while we’re doing the dusting, mopping and decluttering of spring cleaning. Let’s invite Him to show us what we might need to “clean up” in order to grow deeper in our faith and closer to our Father. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:25 But what happens when the cold and rain and even a late snowstorm or blizzard tries to smother out our spring? Hardships of life can throw clouds over us at times, but if we have deep roots of faith, we can make it through those valleys of discouragement or trouble. We can abide in the love of the Lord.
“The seasons change and you change, but the Lord abides evermore the same, and the streams of His love are as deep, as broad and as full as ever.”—Charles H. Spurgeon
There is an old story about a man with a very cheerful, happy countenance in spite of the fact that his life was filled with trouble and tragedy. Those in his community couldn’t understand it and one day someone asked him how he could stay so cheerful. The old man replied, “I get it out of the Bible.”
“What do you mean, you get it out of the Bible?” the person asked.
“Over and over in the Bible I see the words, ‘And it came to pass,’ but never do I find ‘And it came to stay.’ This keeps me moving,” the man said.
What does this say to us? We all face grief and losses in life that we have to accept. But on the other end of the spectrum of sorrow is the rainbow. That rainbow is there because God is here and never leaves us. Trouble might not stay, but the Lord does. He is with us through it all.
God, help me with my spring cleaning this spring!