Lessons from Trees
12 Yes, you will go out with celebration,
and you will be brought back in peace.
even the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you;
all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13 In place of the thorn the cypress will grow;
in place of the nettle the myrtle will grow.
This will attest to the Lord’s stature,
an enduring reminder that won’t be removed.
Isaiah 55:12-13
When I look out, what do I see? Warmer weather, greener grass, and budding tree.
March is looking to be wonderful this year. Even nature seems to be full of hope and celebration. With that being said, we are still in Lent, until Easter on April 1. This means that even as the world wakes up from a winter slumber and we see the signs of new life everywhere, we are still in a season of intentional reflection of our own lives and how those lives affect the world around us. Continue to take advantage of the opportunities before us to do so. Our faith, our work in faith, and even the lives of those around us depend upon us being serious about our belief.
Maybe it is good that spring seems to be coming early. By the time you read this, the cherry trees will be blooming and lawn mowers will be dusted off for their first cut. Maybe the reminder of nature’s own hope can spur us into action based on our own hope of God’s salvation. The grass and trees don’t seem to be waiting for a date on the calendar: we shouldn’t either. Be the hands and feet of Christ today. Let us reflect God’s love and grace given to all in everything we do and say. Be honest with yourself in your own walk of faith. Continue to develop relationships, foster friendships, and seek out the wandering and lost…
This is the perfect time to bring our family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances to church. The best ways to increase who is here is a personal conviction by the familiar and a personal invitation to the newcomer. How can we be content with those around us who do not have the joy of a faith community in their lives? Let us be the place people are welcome, no matter where they come from. All need God’s love, and we are living it better every day. We should want to share that. The trees are.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Brian Siegle