Song of Solomon 2:11-12

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

 For tonight’s word of encouragement, the Bible passage is Song of Solomon 2:11-12:

¹¹ For behold, the winter is past;
the rain is over and gone.
¹² The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtledove
is heard in our land.

 Spring in Madison could hardly have timed its arrival better. In our garden, we have snowdrops, crocuses, and winter buttercups already blooming, and everything from daffodils and tulips to poppies and day lilies sending up green shoots. Add to that the goldfinches (some already in their summer plumage), cardinals, house finches, and a red-bellied woodpecker that feed outside our window along with crowds of smaller birds, and I can again share the exuberant joy that the inspired author of the Song of Songs found in the return of flowers to the earth and of birds and their songs to the air. To be sure, we have a way to go yet before spring shows its full glory, and our mourning doves (who always seem to feed as a pair) don’t have quite as warm a call as the European turtledove, but I am thankful nonetheless for the astonishing beauty and variety of God’s creation and for the return yet again of spring, one of God’s great seasonal gifts.

 And, yes, I know that we’re in the middle of a pandemic but, at times like this, it seems all the more important that we allow ourselves to enjoy the good things that our loving God continues to give us each day. There is still color, beauty, music (human and avian!), and sunshine (today, anyway). There are still good books to read and conversations to be had (even if online). There is still the real—indeed increased—care and concern that we are showing for one another. If we take one day at a time, rather than living in fear of an unknown future, we can still find much to be thankful for.

 The timely arrival of spring also reassures me that it’s only a part of creation (human health) that has been knocked off balance. The rest of God’s good creation is behaving as it should: the crocuses are out in abundance, the finches are putting on their summer plumage, even the rabbits are out, greedily eying our flowers and shoots. God’s good world has a future, and I am privileged to be alive in it, enjoying its beauty and the love of my brothers and sisters in Christ as long as God allows me.

Grace and peace to you all from your brother in Christ,

Max