Every spring on the mountain was the same… windy, dusty. Oh, spring, at least “real” spring doesn’t happen on March 20, nooooooo, try June. (I remember one June 7 trying to cook pancakes for my Kiwanis Club while snow was falling covering tables and roads!)

All winter long, the city dutifully drops volcanic cinders on the roads for traction and by April, they are pulverized dust whipped to and froe by the wind to cover everything inside and out with a nice fine layer. We didn’t mind that so much because we knew they weren’t spreading salt around to rust out the cars.

By mid-May things begin to change; the trees finally turn green (aspens and elms of course) and the ponderosa pines are finished adding their green pollen dust on top of the brown cinder dust. Daffodils and tulips are winding up blooming and summer plants are taking advantage of the warmer days and nights. (Of course, here in the valley, we’re thinking really hard about flipping on the old AC unit!

It might not sound like it, but I like spring on the mountain. The dreary and drab days of winter replaced by green and color…and warmth.

Song of Songs 2:11-13 “See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. 12 Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. 13 The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”

What we often see as stagnant in the winter, barrenness, and devoid of life is really a misperception. Under the surface, deep in the roots, the plant rests, dormant until spring. Many plants need this time of dormancy to recover from the stresses of insects, summer, burning heat and the stress of continual growth.

We need those rhythms too. We need seasons of growth, rest, and renewal to be healthy physically and spiritually. If you are discouraged or frustrated that you seem to be in a spiritual slump, don’t stress, rest. Rest, and give yourself space for God to connect and teach. Even in the dormant seasons – perhaps most often in the dormant times – we are most attentive to God’s presence and still, small, voice. Then spring comes and we experience the warmth, growth, joy of a new season.

What is God teaching you in the “rest” times? How is God reaching out for you? Who is he using to touch and teach your heart? What is God saying?

“Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.” – Deuteronomy 32:2

May God’s love shower you and renew you each day.

~ Pastor John