That Bloomin’ Time of Year Again!

Based on the title for this blog, you might be thinking it’s about the NCAA Basketball Championships. Nope.

As this week ended the sun was shining, trees budding, squirrels scurrying, birds chirping, bees buzzing. Lawnmowers roared to life for the first time all year. Even though spring hadn’t officially started, evidence of that bloomin’ season were all around.

Seems just yesterday I was writing about the bombardment of snow much of the country was receiving, even here in Chattanooga. But already those days seemed distant memories as blossoms exploded from branches, tulips popped through the soil, and cagey cardinals and blue jays resumed their sport of diving in front of oncoming cars, then zooming out of harm’s way at the last moment.

I love spring, not because it signals the cessation of cold and commencement of warmth, but rather because it marks a rebirth, a moment when things start again – and yet, start anew. The last of the past fall’s leaves were just banished from our yard; now their successors are quickly emerging.

Soon everywhere we look, brown will have transformed to green. Coats and gloves will be replaced by cool tops, shorts and sandals. It’ll be “safe” to go outdoors again.

For me spring also is a metaphor for spiritual reality. God in His creation is fully engaged in the business of making new, not only in flora and fauna, but also – and especially – in mankind, whom the Scriptures tell us God created “in Our image, in Our likeness” (Genesis 1:26).

A favorite Bible verse reminds me, “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The reason for this? So that “we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4) or, according to another translation, “…walk in newness of life.”

So as the spring returns to your step, is there a “spring” in your spirit?

Springing into Something New

There was a lot going on last week: Daylight Savings Time arrived on Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day came at midweek, and spring was sprung upon us on Saturday. I’m getting too old for so much excitement!

I was in Omaha, Nebraska for several days, and they apparently didn’t get the message about spring there. As my flight was leaving Friday morning, they were expecting 4-6 inches of snow. Nice of them to wait until I was ready to leave – I had already switched into spring mode. (We did actually have some snow flurries this morning in Chattanooga, but I think those were just leftovers from a previous snowstorm.)

Anyway, now it’s spring. The natural course of global warming has begun – at least in the Northern Hemisphere. There is something fascinating about this season. After months of cold, dreary days and dormant plant life, the cycles of growth resume again. Soon we’ll see blossoms bursting into view, new leaves sprouting from barren tree limbs, grass again beckoning, “Gentlemen, start your lawnmowers!” and birds returning to northern abodes, chirping cheery greetings to one another.

Spring signifies the renewal of hope, the promise of life resuming at full speed. After hunkering down to keep warm, we emerge from our homes to revel in new birth everywhere we look.

Interestingly, new birth is a recurring theme in the Bible. In John 3:3, Jesus said, “You must be born again,” not meaning we need a new perspective or new philosophy, but literally a new spiritual life available only through Him. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” That is what the Scriptures refer to as Good News.

When we observe Easter April 4, that’s what we’ll celebrate.