Signs of Life

Living in the path of the recent snowstorms, and finding time in February winding down, I can't help but think to the spring.

One sure sign of spring on its way that I remember from growing up is a cluster of small, white flowers, tinged with green, that emerged in my parent's backyard each year.

These flowers, known as snowdrops, brave whatever winter is giving us to unexpectedly thrust themselves through the ground--through snow; through cold, hard earth; through a matted tangle of decaying leaves from the last days of fall. They offer hope of longer days and warmer temperatures when many of us are well within the grasp of a seemingly unending case of cabin fever.

Cold temperatures and a harsh climate would make it seem like these flowers have the worst timing for blooming. But, nevertheless, when things look dreary to our eyes, here they come, imparting a sliver of color to the winter landscape--and a sliver of hope to our frozen hearts.

Sometimes our faith can be as stagnant as the hard, cold, packed earth of the winter months. During such a time, verdant periods of growth in our relationship with God may seem like a distant memory. But by stepping back from our stress and our fears, and reconnecting with the Lord, we can witness signs of life return to our spirit--even if the joy that manifests starts as small as the brave snowdrop.

An appropriate verse from the Bible to illustrate how spirit-filling it is to stop everything and seek God is this one: "I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." (Psalms 34:4) The deliverance--the spiritual growth in our lives--only comes when we seek God and place our worries and sadness in His hands.

We are reminded by the snowdrop flower that winter will be over sooner than we think. We are reminded by God that time in His presence can break through the layers of ice that encase our hearts, cast aside the piles of negative history that smother our contentment, and even penetrate dense layers of doubt with the clarifying light of love. And as sure as the snowdrop comes back every year, God's grace is available perennially as well.