Thursday, April 15, 2010

Insight || On the Other Side of Sorrow

This year spring has arrived early. The issue that can evolve from this is that we automatically assume that it will be warm enough to trapeze through the fields with flippy flops and trimmed up clothing. I tried going out in my Tevas. I got as far as the backyard along the tree line.

The last couple of days we have been cleaning out all of the dead branches and fallen trees from the ice storm that hit this state two winters ago. Ya, finally we are doing something about it. The thing is that the trees don't even belong to us and they are pretty much out of the way, so hence the delay. Well, we became sick of looking at the eye sore. There will still be a few trees bent over, but as of now it is looking better already. We still have to bring out the chain-saw for the big jobs. That is for Dad to take care of.


We decided that it was a good idea to turn a lot of the dead branches into kindling. I felt like a woods woman gathering sticks for my little fire in the hut. It also reminded me of when God told the Israelites to refrain from picking up sticks on the Sabbath. I can see why He would command us not to do it.


There is something to be said about being outside. The fresh air is always mentioned, but I have to say that really getting to know the woods around you makes it feel like your territory has increased. Sounds weird, but I feel the same way about cleaning my place for the first time. It becomes your own.


In one of the trees that we were removing, there was a little nest. Thankfully there were no eggs. How fascinating is it that a bird can weave twigs together into this bowl shape with just a beak? I mean seriously... at least they have the advantage of a sharp beak. Those are some tiny twigs.


Even as ferociously as this spring has come with all the rain, it still gently lets go of death. Mourning the death of the year before can never last too long, yet it is good to remember where we came from and where we are headed. Like autumn, the spring is a transition for us humans. We have a hard time with sorrow. We also have a hard time letting go and reaching for what is new and better for us. Let us remember that Heaven is what we should strive for. It is a place that God had in mind for us all along. It is where He wants to dwell with us.


God wants you home. It costs you nothing. Just the ability to reach out and accept that He took the debt for you. You do not have to live in sorrow, you can reach for Spring.

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