the glories of GREEN

To many of you who are privileged to live in a place where spring is already in full bloom, you probably won't understand the beauty of these pictures. I'll give you the story behind it so that you can more fully appreciate how truly glorious GREEN can be.

Imagine two weary travelers who pull on their winter sweaters on yet another cold, gray morning in Philadelphia. One in particular hates to still be shivering when it's April and beyond Easter. She thinks that she should be wearing her white sandals and pastel-colored clothes now. But the first time she really got them out was in anticipation of this weekend trip to her hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. To these winter-dreary travelers, they are desperately in need of spring. There are little signs of it here and there: daffodils, forsythia, pink-blossoming trees. But no green leaves to speak of.

Imagine their wonder, joy and amazement when, after a brief four hour flight, they awake to find themselves in the land of green. The sun is shining so brightly that they need their sunglasses; its warmth invites them to shed their sweaters; and most of all the GREEN dazzles their eyes. The leaves are back! So rarely do you have the chance to experience both winter and spring in one day that it's easy to forget how absolutely glorious spring can be. Its wonder is not lost on these two travelers.

Imagine what's even more refreshing: the joy of seeing my family after four months; of celebrating with my "little" brother and my soon-to-be sister-in-law as they anticipate their wedding; of sharing a cup of Ginger Peach tea and heart-warming conversation on a Sunday afternoon with a good friend who will also be wed soon; of all that is familiar about home and parents and the church I grew up in.

Needless to say, I think I feel more alive after this past weekend. We still await the green leaves to blossom here, but we have gotten a taste of the vitality to come.

A few pics from the weekend...

Nicole and Jonathan opening up my parents' shower gift to them: a pancake griddle so they can carry on the famous Davis Saturday morning tradition of pancakes




My cousin Jillian and I in our Sunday morning best. She was our flower girl in our wedding. And she's growing so fast!




Seth with Jillian and her little brother, Logan. Doesn't he look like a natural? :)

A Joyful Easter: it is well with my soul

As we ended our Good Friday service at church with this hymn, it resonated with my soul. This is the joy of Good Friday and Easter Sunday: regardless of what life brings, how tempting sin becomes, and the kind of suffering I experience (and those close to me) IT IS WELL with my soul. Because of Christ...His death in my place, His resurrection guaranteeing there is life after death. Below are two verses of this familiar hymn. And below that are various snapshots from our Easter celebration. (including my first ever attempt at a Southern Easter tradition of "Hot cross buns" and pictures of our Easter breakfast with Seth's parents, Fred & Joan)

Refrain:
 It is well with my soul,
 it is well, it is well with my soul.

2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
 let this blest assurance control,
 that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
 and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
 (Refrain)

3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
 My sin, not in part but the whole,
 is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
 praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
 (Refrain)

Cold Easter: an oxymoron?

It never fails to surprise me and dismay me how long winter's icy fingers grip this area of the country during the season I used to know as "spring." Here's a clip on weather.com of the current temperature:

41°F
Feels Like
32°F

Ahh, yes. Quite cold indeed for the 5th of April! And it is supposed to stay this way through Easter. Good thing I didn't go out and get an Easter dress, as is the custom were I in South Carolina. I would be too cold in it!

So at this time of year, I feel like I am forced to have faith that God is a Creator who made seasons...and spring WILL come, though it seems ages away today. Surely there are signs even now: the brilliant yellow blooms outside of my office window, the fresh green grass, the trees budding, the cherry blossoms exploding with color.

And isn't this so similar to what this season of life on earth is like? As ones who hope in the resurrected Christ who will bring life after death for all who trust in Him, I believe that redemption is coming. That God in His full beauty will appear. Yet now we await signs of this life to come. Amidst the pain and the suffering that seems too often to prevail. Still there is new life breaking through: the kindness of a stranger, the generosity of family, healing from abuse, marriages that last a lifetime, parents who love their children, the beauty of sunsets, vacation, ...

The signs point to a coming Resurrection. Do you believe it is surer than spring's arrival to Philadelphia? May it be so! And may we celebrate the Risen Christ who ushers in true Life this Easter...whether it be while shivering in a winter sweater or enjoying a new Easter spring-like dress. :)