Anticipating a Change of Seasons
Journal 2005 03 03
Anticipating a Change of Seasons
A flock of geese flies overhead. North. Weather in the high thirties and the ice in the Missouri River is breaking up. Spring approaches. This small troop of soldiers is anxious to get moving west.
Preparations for the upcoming journey are in full swing. Fort Mandan bustles with activity. The forge is in constant use making tools to trade, hides are twisted into ropes, piroques (oar and sail driven river boats) prepared, canoes carved and the Captains receive visitors from the British trading companies every day as the winter blanket of snow, ice and chilling air is anticipated to give way to the warming currents that blow unimpeded across the prairie.
No prairie grass is growing, snow and ice still cover the ground and Indians watch the now running river for bison that have fallen through the thinning ice and drown. Easier than hunting!
Is it spring yet? No. Is winter over yet? No. Are signs of spring in the air? Yes. Geese fly north. The river changes from ice to water. And the spirits of the people are lifting from the stillness the cold covering of winter bunkered over them.
Do we see the signs of the change that mark a change of season in our lives?
Jesus told His disciples that like the signs given by the color of the sunset, they would see signs signaling His return. He expects that we know how to see and understands signs, or signals, of change. Have we learned to read these signs? Are we looking for them? They emerge from patterns. If we don’t know the patterns we won’t see the differences that indicate a change is imminent.
In winter, the sun sets deep in the south on the horizon. In the summer, the sun sets to the far north. In the course of a year, it traverses the length of the Olympic Mountains for those of us who live in Seattle. A sign. But only for those who can, and do, read it.
Have you heard birds chirping in the early morning for about a week now? Can you see the thin branches of last year’s growth beginning to “thicken” against the bright background of the sky as buds begin to sprout new life? Is this pattern similar to last year, or the year before, or a decade of transitions from winter to spring? If you are not watching and observing you cannot know.
God would have us to watch and know how He operates through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Emmanuel, God with us. Indwelling those who have become His church. His expression, His body on this earth. We are to see signs and know them. Signs of changing seasons. Are we preparing ourselves for the change? Are we anticipating them? Or do we march forward in the same cadence that has marked our journey uninterrupted since our salvation?
Let the Holy Spirit blow winds of change as a natural part of seasons changing in our lives. See the pattern, the change and prepare yourself for the upcoming spring. It brings new life and refreshment. Look for it today and live!
Anticipating a Change of Seasons
A flock of geese flies overhead. North. Weather in the high thirties and the ice in the Missouri River is breaking up. Spring approaches. This small troop of soldiers is anxious to get moving west.
Preparations for the upcoming journey are in full swing. Fort Mandan bustles with activity. The forge is in constant use making tools to trade, hides are twisted into ropes, piroques (oar and sail driven river boats) prepared, canoes carved and the Captains receive visitors from the British trading companies every day as the winter blanket of snow, ice and chilling air is anticipated to give way to the warming currents that blow unimpeded across the prairie.
No prairie grass is growing, snow and ice still cover the ground and Indians watch the now running river for bison that have fallen through the thinning ice and drown. Easier than hunting!
Is it spring yet? No. Is winter over yet? No. Are signs of spring in the air? Yes. Geese fly north. The river changes from ice to water. And the spirits of the people are lifting from the stillness the cold covering of winter bunkered over them.
Do we see the signs of the change that mark a change of season in our lives?
Jesus told His disciples that like the signs given by the color of the sunset, they would see signs signaling His return. He expects that we know how to see and understands signs, or signals, of change. Have we learned to read these signs? Are we looking for them? They emerge from patterns. If we don’t know the patterns we won’t see the differences that indicate a change is imminent.
In winter, the sun sets deep in the south on the horizon. In the summer, the sun sets to the far north. In the course of a year, it traverses the length of the Olympic Mountains for those of us who live in Seattle. A sign. But only for those who can, and do, read it.
Have you heard birds chirping in the early morning for about a week now? Can you see the thin branches of last year’s growth beginning to “thicken” against the bright background of the sky as buds begin to sprout new life? Is this pattern similar to last year, or the year before, or a decade of transitions from winter to spring? If you are not watching and observing you cannot know.
God would have us to watch and know how He operates through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Emmanuel, God with us. Indwelling those who have become His church. His expression, His body on this earth. We are to see signs and know them. Signs of changing seasons. Are we preparing ourselves for the change? Are we anticipating them? Or do we march forward in the same cadence that has marked our journey uninterrupted since our salvation?
Let the Holy Spirit blow winds of change as a natural part of seasons changing in our lives. See the pattern, the change and prepare yourself for the upcoming spring. It brings new life and refreshment. Look for it today and live!
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 10:00 PM
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