Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Spring (the season) (07/23/09)
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TITLE: The Good, the Bad and the Neutral | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sean Harding
07/26/09 -
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Some people hate spring, they see a season of endless rainy days, and when the rain ceases, the pollen and the dust affect their nasal passages and their eyes. In Australia they see it as that time where people spend their money betting on a horse race, the Melbourne Cup, the race that stops a nation, and as some have argued bleeds out its very soul.
Some people are totally neutral about spring, they don’t see it as a reason to celebrate, they don’t see it as a reason to mourn, it is they would say another season, another three months of life, something which passes by quickly and in which we see the faithfulness of God reflected in the everyday of life.
So who is right? Is anyone right? Is there another response to spring?
I vacillate between all three of these postulations. I can see the new life of spring bursting forth, and think of the new life in Christ, I can see the promise of Deuteronomy 11:14 where it says God will send the spring rains on your land (NIV) I see spring as a beautiful reminder of God’s provision and his promise of salvation and of an eternal hope.
I also know the moments when it seems that the Spring rains that have come to our land have seem to been coming for the last fifteen days, I feel sad, frustrated and angry when I see people’s whole pay packets have gone into the futile pursuit of winning money on a horse race and little children don’t understand when their alcohol filled father comes home in a rage and there is no food upon the table. I have those moments when my eyes are red from dust and pollen and where I sneeze sixteen times in a row and I cry out in anguish take this season away from me!
Then I am neutral and I can sing with a loud voice of the great faithfulness of God in all seasons regardless of what is happening to me, whether I am feeling positive, negative or neutral he is a faithful God.
So how do I respond to spring?
I thank him for the reminders of salvation.
I embrace the small trials I face in the light of his overwhelming grace and mercy, I don’t demand to be healed, in fact I relish responding in a way that will make the light of Christ shine brighter in my world to those around me.
I remember his faithfulness and that in all seasons I will follow him.
I pray: Dear God help me to follow you for all my days, to never give up but to cherish each day with you, help me to live for you with a passionate willing heart and to hunger and thirst after you, whether it is the depth of a freezing winter, the middle of a burning summer, the middle of a barren autumn, or the long dusty pollen filled days of Spring. Help me God cling to your, rely on you, and share your love to those around me.
Finally, I hope, I hope that as I pass each of the spring times that remain in my short life that I would realize the awesome opportunity I have to share the love of Christ with all and that I never forget his love and his grace, and that this would overwhelm any other feelings I have about this season.
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