I love this time of year.
I was convinced last week that one of my forsythia bushes had died over the winter; it was brown and brittle and lifeless. Forsythia’s remind me of my mother, she loved them and used them in her early spring bouquets. And they are often the first bush to bloom in the spring.
So went I went out in the sunshine yesterday to do another inspection, I was thrilled to see the transformation… little bumps pushing out, promises of buds! It has been so cold this year, and everything is late. But in the dark and cold, life waited to burst forth… and soon I will see those beautiful yellow flowers!
When I was choosing words for this Lent season, it seemed so appropriate to include the word transformation. Easter is about new life, renewal, hope of resurrection, and the celebration of the resurrected Lord. But first there is the waiting, and sometimes groaning, and the learning, and the wondering… often in the dark.
I believe we can have seasons of transformation in our lives, as we learn and grow and move through cycles of our lives… I know that in my early fifties I experienced a deep transformation and renewal that was life-changing. As I look back, this time was preceded by an intense time of brokenness, searching and surrender to the One who created me. There was a choosing to trust.
