Pastor's Note

SOUTHERN EXPOSURE
January 27th, 2008

My study has windows facing south. Consequently, at this time of year, when the sun shines, there are usually warm rays entering through the blinds and falling onto my desk. It doesn’t take much to imagine that spring is here and it is sixty degrees instead of sixteen!
We all know that winter lasts longer than most people want. Even those who enjoy the beauty of the snow, the frost on the trees, and the crisp clear air of an early winter morning will probably say they are done with winter before winter is done with them.
But there are signs, like the sunshine coming in the south windows, to remind us not to give up hope. Winter will not last forever.
Hope is an amazing virtue. It is more than idle well-wishing or crossing our fingers. It is founded in reality even as it directs us to what is not yet real. It reminds us we are not forgotten, not abandoned. And it helps us remember there will be a tomorrow, even when the ‘today’ seems endless and overwhelming.
So, like me, you may need to look for every sign of hope that you can find. Sit in the sunlight. Move your house plants to get their share, too. And dare to dream about days when you can walk outside without a parka or boots, days when the spring flowers will start to bloom again.
God is already planning the next season.