Thursday, March 25, 2010

Spring and New Life

In late February, I was bemoaning the fact that it was cold and dark, and that winter seemed endless. The snow was piled high and was getting that dirty, gritty look. Is it just me, or does it seem to anyone else that all of a sudden, in just one day, the sun was out, the snow was all but gone and the world looked bright again? Walking past the Whitby Gift Shop, I noticed that the soft green “Lamb’s Ears” were poking through the dead, brown of winter. The cardinals were singing, sparrows were darting in and out of the bird bath and March Madness was upon us. In my home town of Breckenridge, Minn., the Red River of the North began its colossal and inexorable flow to the cities of Fargo and Grand Forks.

All of this gives me pause to do Visio and Lectio Divina on the circumstances of the world around me. The purpose of Visio Divina is to develop awareness: to see “behind the seeing” in order to become aware of the presence of the Holy One and the sacred meaning contained in all things in our lives. In this case, I am drawn to acknowledge again with awe the monumental changes of the seasons, the continuous dying and rising of new life, the determination of all that is living to survive and become new again. Even the raging flood waters cannot stop this determined movement to life.

What will you say to this Generous Creator who never stops calling us out of death to new life?

During Lent, we are given Scripture readings for Lectio Divina. As we listen and ponder, we become aware of the presence of the Holy One in our lives and are invited to respond.

Jesus also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A woman scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether she sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though she does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head." Mark 26:26-28

What will you say to this Divine Gardener who abundantly blesses your life?

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