As February comes to a close in south-central Montana, a blanket of white covers the early buds which spring's deception sprouted. Wet and heavy and relentless in its descent overnight, I couldn't help but think there was something profound in seeing the green tips of tulip and daffodil leaves poking through the sparkling snow.
Perhaps it is how I am in a season of choosing....
Choosing to grow even when a storm throws cold
Choosing to do even when I feel buried
Choosing to believe warmth will come even if right now feels chilly.
We all live in a time of spring's deception and blanketing snows. Every news feed is full of reasons to question where are we going and why is it so bad. I have even yet to meet anyone who isn't at least touched by the bitterness of society, by way of a friend or family member(s) who is/are choosing the reckless ways in life, rather than the well-rooted growth nourished under the Holy.
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." ~ Matthew 7:13-14"
Jesus speaks the above words towards the end of his Sermon on the Mount. After teaching and advising, he begins the transition to encouragement and warning. The "manys" are counted here - many who will say they knew Him, many who bore bad fruit or good fruit... yet, so profound is the "many" who choose the wide and easy gate.
It is easy to go with the flow, to look like everyone else and do the things which require the least work or resistance. It is also easier to pluck overly ripe fruit which doesn't last as long and harder to wait for the good fruit you know will carry the most flavor and keep for days or weeks (or longer).
It is not easy to poke through the cold snow when we want to hunker in with a fluffy sweater - yet, seeing that sprout of green = hope.
Right now may be spring's deception, but there is beauty in the snow... and the promise of tomorrow when warmth will indeed return.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and cis seated at the right hand of the throne of God. ~ Hebrews 12:1-2 ~
Blessings,
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