Underground

As the season of spring is arriving in a few weeks, I anticipate the blooms of bulbs I planted with my grandson this past fall. He is six years old and he displayed amazing patience and perseverance as we planted over 150 spring bulbs on a blustery fall afternoon.

These tulips and daffodils have lain sleeping underground over the winter months of rain, ice, snow and wind; soon they will burst into vibrant colour! Spring is a season filled with new life – rebirth –

It takes patience and hope to wait for spring bulbs to bloom.

It also takes patience and hope in our lives to see good things grow.

All work is a seed sown; It grows and spreads, and sows itself anew. Carlyle

The psalmist says “Teach us to number our days well, so we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

(Psalm 90:11)

Some seasons of our life are filled with growth and exploration. Other times in our life are more reflective and quiet.

Self-discipline and reflection are good antidotes to our world of excess.

Some seasons in life are times of reflection – of planting positive things in our lives that will mature and blossom in the future. We need wisdom and patience. But the wait is worth it!

When a bulb or a seed is planted it looks dead. We wonder how new life ever can come out of this shell.

There is great promise and potential when things are silently, invisibly growing underground.

Jesus said,

“… unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24 NIV

The powerful prayer of St. Francis of Assisi ends,

It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.