I am so ready
for this snow to disappear. The white stuff that was a beautiful novelty in
December is still beautiful, especially when the morning sun tints it with
gold. But it is no longer a novelty. The street lights glinting off the fresh
snow at night sparkle like the fake snow on Christmas cards. But Christmas was
a long time ago.
Instead of being excited this morning when a couple of
inches more of fluff floated down, I got to wondering what it would be like to
potter around in the garden. Hidden down under there are roses, and strawberries,
and iris, and phlox, and foxglove. Thistles and dandelions are there, too, of
course, but at least they are green. We haven’t seen any green in ever so long.
God promised that the seasons would always change as
planned, that seed time and harvest time would not fail. But here it is March 5,
and I want to know why it’s taking so long. Maybe the meteorologists know the
answer, but they’re not talkin’.
Other promises are waiting to be fulfilled, too. I’d like
to be out of this transitional period I’m in and settled in new ministry. Various
prophets are saying that 2014 is going to be a year of growth, of fire, of
breakthrough, of going to new levels. But it seems to me like they said that
about 2013, too. And 2012.
Why is it taking so long?
Just like I want to see the plants now lying dormant
under all that snow, I want to see God’s people walking in grace and community
and bringing healing and peace to this weary and rebellious world. What is
keeping the layers of confusion and sin and hurt in power, both within the
church and without? I am discontent with this winter of deadness.
So I am looking at seed catalogs and reviewing what needs
to be done for the lawn when the snow melts. Because it has to, sooner or
later. I am also getting ready what I need to have in place when God starts
waking people up. He’s going to need fully-equipped gardeners. I want to be
ready.
However long it takes.
It's hard to be ready for any/all circumstances, but we can prepare for those we KNOW are coming. God is good at getting us ready for things only he knows about!
ReplyDeleteAccording to Psalm 1, the righteous person is like a tree planted by rivers of water, that brings forth fruit "in its season." Perhaps the winter is a time for strengthening the tree, when the material added to the rings is thin and tough. I'm with you, though. I like the "seasons of refreshing" promised in Acts 3:19.
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