One of my least favorite seasons of the year is winter – dreary gray landscapes, biting cold winds, and lonely, naked trees. Outdoor walks require preparation, layers of clothing, and a little bit of grit, or maybe a lot of grit! It’s hard to believe at these times that the promise of spring is certain, that there remains the hope of coming life in the frozen, barren ground. When all that we see around us is desolation, the promise of spring seems nothing more than a figment of our imagination!
The other day, as my husband and I took our daily neighborhood walk, the realization that spring had arrived was more than evident! Birds were singing, flowering trees graced our vistas, and the smells of fresh dirt being cultivated was so very sweet. People were outside enjoying the sunshine, waving at us with smiles. Winter was over. The death of winter had ushered in the joy of the promise of new life.
As Holy Week approaches, we are reminded of the very sad reality that Jesus spent that last week with his disciples, preparing for his death, preparing, for what would later seem to his disciples, a long winter and hopeless end to a pipe dream. But as we know, the winter of Holy Week held the promise of the coming life of spring resurrection. The seeming finality of death was actually, as we now know, a new beginning. Crucifixion’s finality brought glorious victory. Life did not really end upon that cross. Little did the grieving disciples know, it was the promise of the coming eternal spring, a winter’s-end redeeming kind of joy, bursting with life that is unlike anything we could possibly imagine. It was the bridegroom’s promise that he would return in power and glory for his bride.
Difficult, often lonely and cold life circumstances, bring about the sweetest fruits. Though we cannot always understand the purpose of these life-winters, we can rest in the hope of the coming beauty of Jesus’ return. As we wait in winter’s darkness, let us remember Spring’s promise, the hope found in these words of Song of Solomon 2:10-13. He is risen, and He is coming for His Bride!
10 My lover said to me,
“Rise up, my darling!
Come away with me, my fair one!
11 Look, the winter is past,
and the rains are over and gone.
12 The flowers are springing up,
the season of singing birds has come,
and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.
13 The fig trees are forming young fruit,
and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming.
Rise up, my darling!
Come away with me, my fair one!”