Spring into being

It happens to me every year. At some point in the spring, I will turn around, look at the trees and woods near where I am standing, and realize that spring had come. The trees that were bare what seems like the day before, will be covered with fresh green leaves.

Obviously, those leaves didn't actually appear overnight. I must not be paying attention, and all of a sudden, I look around, and POOF! there's spring. The leaves are popping out, the dogwood is blooming, the redbud has appeared, and I have almost missed it.

In fact, redbud is Steve's warning that spring is coming. He'll be driving around (as he does, lots) and he'll notice that the redbud is out -- this bright purple spot in the winter woods. It seems to appear overnight.

One of the lectionary readings this week is from Isaiah 49. Take a look at verse 9:

See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.

Are there times when we miss God? Are there times when we turn around, and POOF! God is there? Someone in class tonight mentioned that we miss grace -- we get so busy that we fail to turn around and see the grace that God has given to us.

What can we do about that?

• Be confident that spring is coming -- be faithful in our knowledge that God is at work, and that he has given us grace.
• Pay attention to what is around us. Assume that grace is always present, and be open to seeing it.
• Do you see grace? Point to it for other people. I think that is one of the values of community. We point to grace for each other.
• Share grace with each other -- don't just point at it, deliver it. Perhaps if we deliberately share it with each other, we won't be miss it -- we'll be watching.

Images: Dogwood, new leaves and redbud.