I don’t know about where you are, but where I am, Spring has come.
It came slowly at first, with the little signs that you’d miss if you weren’t paying attention. Like the few hairs coming off of my pony’s coat. The littlest sprigs of green bravely poking their way up. A fresh smell in the wind.
These little signs showed that the shift to spring had begun. Except, it didn’t really begin with them, but another little thing. In December, when the sun began staying up in the sky just a minute or so more a day. But it’s the little, steady things that make the difference, in life and in stories.
Winter itself breaks because of these little things.
And now, spring is truly here. There is green coming up everywhere. The newest, freshest leaves of the elm have come out to stand vibrant against the blue sky. The birds are chattering and building nests. The sun’s rays have more warmth. But it all started with those little changes.
This year, as I noted all these things, it reminded me of a favorite story.
In the classic book The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Narnia has been living in winter, covered in snow and frozen with ice, ruled by the cruel White Witch for years. In our own way, I think we have all felt winter’s grip in one way or another.
But then…
Aslan comes.
And when He does, winter breaks and spring comes rushing in. The reign of winter and the Witch ends forever.
It’s so easy to get sucked into the wintery things of life. So easy to just be swept up in the world and the schedules and the work. So easy to forget what God has done when lies swirl around us and fear threatens and despair tugs. So easy to focus on our own strengths, successes, and abilities.
But remembering… Remembering the Story is powerful.
Spring is my favorite season because of the newness of life that it brings, but because it reminds us of life itself. I think the Resurrection, and Passover, are in spring for a reason.
We must remember how our God loves us enough to take nails and death in our place. We have to tell the story to ourselves again. We have to tell the story of how winter broke and how death was crushed to ourselves again and again, so that it weaves itself into our own life story, so that we don’t forget.
And at the same time, because we have looked back, we have to turn our eyes forward. Because the Resurrection was both the fulfillment of a Promise… and a Promise in itself.
Despite the fact our world is in the throes of winter, spring is coming. The little things, the good little things, of this world point to that. The faithful things. The laughter. Journaling. Painting, writing, dreaming, drawing. The games. Yes, even the tears that come from the pain and the aching of this world, from a longing for all to be made right.
Spring is coming, and summer with it. And just before spring really comes, there is always a time when things get nastier. When the cold snaps bite and frost still comes and ice still freezes. It’s harder to endure because you’ve had a glimpse of what’s coming.
But at the same time, that glimpse is what helps you to endure, because you know it means things are changing so that one day, it won’t be just a glimpse.
Because I believe in what Christ's death and Resurrection started, promised. Because the darkest day this world ever knew, became the day that things began to shift, when darkness gave all it had to kill the One who gives Life… And its grip was shattered by the Resurrection, the curse was forever broken, the reign of death ended.
And if that has happened… Then I know the world will be redeemed. I know spring is coming. I know Christ will finish what He started.
I know I can trust the Promise He has made to make all things new.
So I'll keep poking my little green sprigs through the soil. I'll keep smelling the fresh breeze that whispers to me of a time coming and enjoy the feel of the sunshine on my face. I'll keep dreaming, keep laughing, keep playing, and yes, keep mourning and longing for when all will be made new. For spring to fully come.
Things are shifting. The green sprigs are poking up, the ice and snow is melting, Christ has been raised. It will be as the Beaver said:
“Wrong will be right,
When Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of His roar,
Sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth,
Winter meets its death,
And when He shakes His mane,
We will have spring again.”
(C. S. Lewis, from the Lion , the Witch, and the Wardrobe)
Christ has ransomed us and been raised from the dead. Winter’s grasp is broken. Spring is coming.
And I know that's true, wherever you are.
Until the next post, may you be blessed,
Abby
