abrilgoforth

After the mild winter we experienced in North Texas this year, spring seems almost redundant; and yet, I do love it! I love the green trees and the flowering plants. I love the warm sun and the longer days. I love driving around with my sun roof open and letting the wind toss my hair around. I am not so crazy about the pollen, but it comes with the territory. I’ll keep taking my antihistamine and hope for the best.

We can always find something to complain about (like the pollen) if we look, even in the best situations. I know a woman (who shall remain nameless because I am related to her!) about whom I have said, “If she won the lottery, she’d complain about paying the taxes!” This person puts on a happy face in public, and seems kind and loving, but those who know her well know the other side, and it is not pretty. No doubt she wants to be nice, but just under the surface hides a spirit of contempt and judgment, even for those closest to her. She can find the fault in just about anything or anyone, which is sad, because nothing on this planet is perfect. Yet.

As we prepare to celebrate Easter – the resurrection of Jesus and the hope it brings us – we still live in an unfinished world; a world that longs for the second coming of Christ and final redemption. We have the opportunity for joy that life in Christ brings us now – like we have the beauty of spring; but we still suffer from allergies – the brokenness and imperfection of the world around us. No, there are no perfect people yet (though even Jesus might fall short of some of our expectations!). And, yes, there are still allergies and taxes. So we have a choice to make.

We can choose to participate fully in the Life that Jesus offers, to revel in the warmth and the beauty we have in him, and to share our redemption with those around us; or we can choose to focus on the flaws we find in a world (and in a people) that isn’t quite fully redeemed. We can live in Light or we can live in darkness. What will you choose?