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.