Ready to Grow this Spring

Each season has a special magic to it, doesn’t it? Nothing replicates the sound of snow falling in the middle of the dark, cold night, or how beautiful everything looks with the weak winter sun reflecting off a fresh coat of snow. Autumn of course has the magic of transforming the colors of leaves so that everything is the colors of a bonfire. Summer is made up of fireflies, beautiful moons, fresh plants everywhere that started from nothing and grow to not only look good but many produce food too, and of course those warm summer nights that make you want to stay up all night. And then there’s spring where life returns after winter’s cold darkness and it reminds us that even when things look bad and hopeless they can still come back to life.

But as inspiring as it can be to see life bursting around us as spring works its magic (and with it the need for tissue boxes to deal with a tough allergy season), it can be overwhelming to feel like we have to keep up with the pace and scope of life that comes with spring if we want to grow now too. Seeing all the plants reappear, all the leaves on the trees grow, and how fast the trees and plants flower and then the flowers drop away, it can make us feel like we have to grow personally at that pace too and if we can’t do all that on top of our regular lives we’re failures or not good enough.

Luke 16:10 holds a good reminder for us when we’re feeling like we’re not growing fast enough or big enough or not keeping pace with everyone else: “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” One of the many lessons Jesus teaches throughout His years of ministry is that there’s nothing wrong with starting, or even staying, small. He placed importance on the lives of the birds of the air as well as the little children, and shared many parables about how it’s just as important to take care in the “little” things of life as it is the big responsibilities.

So yes, if you’re ready and able to grow big this spring, go for it! Be inspired and take advantage of that energy. And if you’re feeling inspired by the growth around you but only have a little that you can give to it now, don’t be ashamed or sad about it, be thankful for the ways that you can grow and focus on doing your best in those areas. Don’t let size be your only factor in choosing what to work on in your life, or in accepting what God has sent your way. How will you grow this spring?

Times of Change and Reflection

I’m never surprised but always blessed when the verses that pass through my life reflect what’s going on in life and the world around me. This week I read the passage, 1 Peter 1:24-25, which talks about how beauty fades but the word of the Lord remains forever. In some ways it’s one of the more depressing verses in the Bible, and really seemed appropriate with the beauty of nature changing and fading all around as we head into winter. Yes, there’s beauty to be seen in the stark grey trees against the blue sky or the white snow everywhere, especially when it’s on the trees in the early morning sunshine, but compared to the other 3 seasons, we’re entering the months and the season that beauty isn’t defined or displayed as most people expect.

As much as we don’t like thinking about the loss of beauty that we’re seeing around us, and as difficult as it is to be reminded that things change or die or don’t remain the same, it’s something that God shared throughout the Bible in reminders of different kinds including Ecclesiastes 3: “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up…”

This chapter in the Bible also brings up something else we struggle with and dealt with this weekend, and that’s time (with the end of daylight savings time) and the idea that there’s time for everything. I know some people would laugh at that statement, because it sure doesn’t feel like there’s time for everything, it’s why we’ve got to-do lists that go unresolved for weeks and even years.

Maybe these first two weeks of November are an opportunity for us to do some reflecting and checking of our priorities and even consider the more difficult aspects of life such as pain and loss. We’ve got some really joyous opportunities ahead of us with Thanksgiving and all the December holidays, but sometimes we need to deal with the harder stuff before we can get to the good stuff.  I encourage you to make time to talk with God about things like priorities, needs, desires, dreams, change and time and ask Him for His guidance and wisdom.

A Celebration of Produce

The other day I commented to my partner how much I miss the summer. I love the summer for many reasons but one of the biggest reasons is because of all of the readily available produce. I love fruits and vegetables, and while I’m not a vegetarian, I definitely have more interest in produce than some. It’s something I regularly incorporate into my diet and into my partner’s as well, fortunately we both enjoy fruits and vegetables. Today I stopped in at one of my favorite food stores, a grocery store that is kind of like an indoor farmer’s market. It’s open all year and not only do they have great prices on produce, their produce is often better than what I see at many other grocery stores. It always makes me feel good to go there and I find it exciting and satisfying to fill up my refrigerator with lots of different fruits and vegetables.

Even though there are many baked/cooked dishes you can make with vegetables, and lots you can do with fruits, you still have to have a good source for them and you have to buy them. There’s definitely such a thing as seasonal produce, and living in a place that can have freezing temperatures throughout as many as 6 months per year means that if it were up to the location I live in I’d be eating canned (from a can at the store or homemade in mason jars) fruits and vegetables, or I’d have to have a greenhouse. But thanks to all of the sharing we do as a country and world, I’m able to have fresh (and tasty) strawberries, zucchini and peppers in February almost as conveniently as I do in the warm months.

As I was washing off some strawberries tonight I was reminded how thankful and blessed I am and we are. We’re able to tap into resources and people around the world to make our lives better and the future better for the next generation. I’m also thankful that God created the variety of produce that He did and as a result we’re able to have a choice in what we eat. It also feels good to eat foods that are good for the body that God has entrusted me with.

I know it may sound simple or silly to be thankful for strawberries in February, but why would God have taken the time to create each thing He did in the Garden of Eden if He didn’t want us to appreciate, enjoy or have a healthy respect for it? This week I would encourage you to open eyes to all that God has created, and appreciate the abundance He has given you.

For Just a Season

This week we officially enter the season of summer, and the temperatures in many parts of the US are supporting that transition.  As I was thinking about the summer season, I was reminded of the Ecclesiastes passage that talks about there being a time for every season and every thing in our lives.  It’s a reminder that everything has it’s time in our lives, that sometimes we have to be patient, and that there’s a right (and wrong) time for everything.

But as I thought about it some more I was reminded that a season is exactly that: a season. It’s not our entire lives or the only thing in our lives, it’s a part of it.  Summer for us lasts 3 or so months and then there’s a new season.  The dictionary even describes a season as “a period or time….especially a short time.”

So what if for this summer season you take it as a season for your life? A season to be proactive about making positive comments on social media, or a season to eat healthy for at least one meal a day, or a season to fight as little as possible with your kids, or a season to learn about yourself, or a season to explore the great country that we share.

That means that from the summer solstice (June 21) to the autumn equinox (September 22) you take the time to focus on doing something good for yourself or the world, doing something you’ve been meaning to do, or consistently doing something that you’ve been inconsistent with.  It’s a chance to try something new, to get to know yourself better, to grow, and to do what needs to be done in your life.

What will this summer season be for you?

A Little Anticipation

Happy Autumn!  The new season has arrived, how are you feeling?  Are you looking forward to what is to come this season, or are you more apprehensive of the changes that are coming?  I’ve been thinking about what this season means to me and the potential it could hold.  Some of those thoughts are pretty overwhelming, and often when it comes to change it does seem overwhelming.  That could be the reason why you’ve been hesitating with changes that you’re considering in your life.

As I was thinking about autumn I was reminded of the season and events that are upcoming: winter and Christmas.  We look to Christmas (or Hanukkah) with a big sense of anticipation, even as adults.  We look forward to gatherings of family and friends.  We look forward to seeing what the stores come up with as window displays.  We look forward to our kids’ gleeful cheers and crazy antics with gift giving.  We look forward to cookies, things we let ourselves eat once a year and even leftovers seem to taste better because it’s the holidays.

Sure some of us anticipate pumpkin spice lattes, apple pie and apple and pumpkin everything that shows up this time of year. Some of us really enjoy Halloween and others really enjoy the falling leaves and autumn activities.  But do we really look forward to it as a season or are we so busy getting back into things, or missing the summer that we almost dismiss fall?  Would we adjust better and enjoy ourselves more if we lived life with anticipation rather than dread or just trying to get by?  I know that Christmas isn’t the perfect holiday, most of us can remember at least one bad one that we had (I can remember a couple that I was really sick for).  So it’s not about having the feeling of Christmas all year long, or having Christmas all year long, but about looking forward to what life sends us.

I encourage you to choose an attitude of anticipation for the rest of this month and season, rather than dread or apathy and see what awesome things come your way.

Lessons of the Seasons

I don’t usually like to share things from people who are anonymous, because it takes away some of the meaning for me (can you even really call it a “quote” if you can’t quote someone about it?). I know that on particularly divisive topics people may not want to or be able to reveal their identities, but for the most part there’s no reason not to share your name and take credit for your wise words. But as we finish out this month’s look at seasons, I was touched by this quote:

“Better late than never, but never late is better.
You can’t change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future.
Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.
Time is the cruelest teacher: she first gives the test, then teaches the lesson.
If you get up one more time than you fall, you will make it through.
All good things must come to an end; but some bad things can continue forever.
Time wastes our bodies and our wits, but we waste time, so we are quits.
Don’t count every hour in the day, make every hour in the day count.
Time is like a handful of sand: the tighter you grasp it, the faster it runs through your fingers.”
Author Unknown

You don’t know what tomorrow will bring, you don’t know if you’ll make it to tomorrow, let alone next season or next summer. It’s up to each of us to choose to make the most out of each and every day. You can’t get back the days that have passed, you can only live in the days that are here and yet to come. What will you do with the summer that stretches before you?

Enjoy the Summer

I’m not the type of person who likes to rush too many things.  I love the speedy internet and not waiting hours for things to cook but the older I get the more I appreciate the value of each and every day we have, especially when it comes to summer.  I love the long daylight hours, the warm nights and hot days.  I love seeing the bright blue sky and beaming sun just about every day.  I love growing fresh vegetables and herbs outside my back door.  I don’t look forward to fall because that means snow and cold weather are coming soon.

So I’m learning to appreciate taking my time, the time that it takes things to happen and the gift of each and every day we have.  Summer makes me want to live life to the fullest and appreciate all of nature around me.  Summer encourages get-togethers with family and friends, from BBQ’s to clam bakes with fun games, activities and drinks.  Summer makes me want to live because that’s what I see going on in the world around me.

But that doesn’t mean that I’m going to rush just because I’m inspired to live.  I’m still going to take my time to do things right the first time, smell the roses, pet the puppies, draw with chalk with the kids, take late night walks with my partner, watch the stars come out, read books, learn from others who know things I don’t and even take time to just sit and watch the world go by.

There’s a time and place for everything, and even if you could rush it, you really shouldn’t. There are lots of things in the here and now that would benefit from your attention.

“Time is nature’s way to keep everything from happening at once.”  John Archibald Wheeler

A Seasonal Solstice

In our discussion about seasons this month I’ve been thinking about what’s coming up on Monday, the summer solstice.  The summer solstice is when several things happen.  First, we get the longest day of the year, in other words the day with the most light.  The second thing is that the summer solstice is the day that the sun appears highest in the sky.  Third, it’s the official start to summer.  Finally, the solstice is when the sun actually comes to a stop and reverses direction so the seasons change.  Cool right?

In some ways the summer solstice is a day of celebration for me, because it marks the official beginning of the summer months and means lots of warm and sunny days.  But it’s also a reminder that we’re heading back towards winter, with cold days and dark nights, which is not my favorite season.

The word solstice is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still).  If I know anything, it’s that we all need some sun and light in our lives and how important it is to take time for reflection.  No, it’s not healthy to be out in the sun day in and day out without protection because of the likelihood of getting cancer(s), but there are lots of important aspects to sunlight that are essential for our health and well-being, and can’t be ignored.  It’s one reason that seasonal affective disorder exists, because most of us can’t live without sunlight.

Summer is a great time to get out early or stay out late and do some meditating and reflecting, or just relaxing and slow down from your usually busy schedule.  If the sun, which keeps all of us alive, makes it a point to stop every 6 months, I believe we can all find the time at least weekly to stop and just take a break.  I’m ready to enjoy the solstice and the summer, are you?

An Ordinary Season

This month as we talk about seasons I wanted to make sure to express that it’s OK to not always be in your best and brightest season. Not all seasons are great and we don’t live in a perfect world. You will have bad days and days you wish you could do over. Some seasons are for learning, some for growing, some for changing, and some for letting go. We have to learn to be flexible with how the seasons change and remember that other people are going through their own seasons too.

However, I was reminded by a verse in the Bible that just because you may be going through a challenging season it doesn’t mean you can’t strive to do the best you can to be the best version of you and the best follower and sharer of Jesus you can. You won’t always get it right, some days will be too much and you’ll need others to step up and support you, but for most of us those days are few and far between.

Regardless of what others may say you’re not supposed to be anyone but the person that God created. He did equip each and every one of us with special gifts and talents that we are to use to fulfill the mission we were each born with. In addition to those gifts and talents, there are tons of resources around the world and through the internet that you can use to supplement and further develop yourself and your knowledge.

But your ability to get through a season successfully is about more than the capabilities and gifts you have, a lot has to do with your mental abilities. Do you believe that God has called you? Do you believe you’re a conqueror and able to get through the challenges the seasons send your way? Do you believe that the world is a blessed place? Do you see God in the simple and the ordinary things? Do you believe He can do anything He wants, including in your life? Do you share that hope and faith with others?  There’s a lot more to a season than just one aspect, look deeper if you’re struggling to see it.

“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.”  Acts 4:13

The Hope of Seasons

This month we’ll be spending time talking about the topic of seasons. I’m not sure exactly where this topic will take us, but we’ll probably talk about the literal seasons and weather, as well as time, transitions, change, and seasons of our lives. Since January I’ve been looking forward to really diving into this topic and seeing what we can learn from it. I’ve lived in the Northeast USA all my life but have done some traveling around the US and have experienced what it’s like in other places during different seasons. It always amazes me that even just a few hours drive can make a big difference in the weather and how the season treats that location.

For so many people what seasons are all about is hope. The farmers hope for a wet winter and spring and not-too-hot summer so their crops grow well. Beach towns hope for warm and long summers. Winter resort towns hope for lots of snow and a cold winter. Some of us just hope to get from one season to the next without dealing with mother nature’s wrath. The hope we can’t give up on though is that the next season will come, no matter how much we want this one to stay, or how much we want to skip ahead through some.

Each new season should be a reminder of hope, an encouragement that life does continue on and that tomorrow could be a better day (especially if you choose to make it one). As we see the changing seasons we should be encouraged and reminded that life does go on, that we are not done with our journeys yet and that there is more to come. Don’t give up because we’re on June of 2016 and you haven’t gotten nearly enough done, be encouraged because there are still more months to this year yet to come.

“Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.” Sarah Ban Breathnach