From where I am sitting, at the receptionist desk in the most beautiful HGTV-fashioned showroom in Atlanta… my job until tomorrow, there is the most vibrant hot pink azelia bush screaming “Im the one to look at!” I mean it’s beeeeautiful, but the bloom only lasts a season. Soon the tender pedals will whither away (and go dormant) until this time next year… God willing. Can you imagine being told, “Ok that’s enough, shed your glory - you’re done until next season.” Silly me, it just seems painful - not being allowed to shine. It seems like having to stifle a praise song, or expressing emotion or flowing in your passion. I would explode! Or I would be very very angry and screaming inside my head… “Why am I being prevented from being all that I was meant to be?!!!” Just stunted and frustrated!
And then I think of a passage in the book of Job (the book in the very middle of the Bible.) Job is scraping his sores and sitting in a puddle of puss. His children have died in a tragic accident, his friends are drilling him about what he did to deserve all this drama and his wife comes in and says… “Why don’t you just curse at God and die?” (you miserable fool.) This man of faith is really struggling so he begins to complain (#shake a fist at God.) And God then tells him:
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.” To which Job finally resigns to the fact that God is The Intelligent Designer of heaven and earth and the sustainer of life, and seasons when he said, “Though You slay me, yet will I trust You.”
Clearly we don’t aways get what season we’re are in or more to the point, when a particular season that we hate - will end. Ehhhh hate is a strong word, let me say, a not-so-fun time in our life will end. What’s with the season that keeps dragging on and on, aaaaaaand on. And we just don’t get the point. But what we fail to remember is here and now, this moment, right here is just a small piece of the puzzle. Seasons come and they go, old things die and new things (previously planted seeds) spring forth. We must realize it’s up to us to process what’s happening and to respond well. For truly our response has a bearing on how long we remain where we are or the number of times we “go around the Mulberry Bush.” Remember the 40 years the Israelites spent in the desert? I think if we could be more organically connected to the source of life we wouldn’t spend decades in the same season.
Trees are so common we miss the beauty of what they represent. Healthy trees shed their leaves annually, each leave vacates a space to make room for a new bud that will burst forth at its due time. Even though the branches seem naked and tree shoot is utterly exposed the roots are still being watered and fed and the whole tree is still growing heavenward- rising higher and higher. And really, how much control does the tree have in this cycle… not much. Trees depend entirely on “Mother Nature” (The Creator and Sustainer of life) and their environment to keep them alive.
I guess what I’m saying is … Sometimes I wish we could have the strength of a tree to stand regardless of harsh elements, the trust that even though leaves leave, I won’t remain naked. And the trust that God will provide me with everything I need to live and thrive. And lastly, in season and out whether the elements are harsh, liveable or pleasant, I can continue to raise my arms and voice in praise knowing that I am more precious to God who loved me (and you) so that He gave His only begotten Son to die for me, so that I could live.
“Easter” is not about a bunny, coloring and hiding eggs… It’s about The Christ who literally died, was buried, and Who rose again in 3 days. To you who might call this “Just another nice story” I would say, do your own research. There are historical records and eye witnesses. All the proof I need is The Empty Tomb. Remember the reason for the season!