As the earth puts out its growth, and as a garden grows its seeds, so the Lord God will grow righteousness and praise before all the nations.

Isaiah 61:11

First, if you are looking for some “Photo-Friday” images then yesterday evening’s “February in 29 Photographs” should do the trick.

Today is the beginning of March and we’re entering the month where (depending on the latitude) it’s as if the Earth is just awakening, and is sitting on the edge of the bed stretching, before getting up and going in earnest.

Here in North Carolina, I can see more and more daffodils making yellow smudges on the landscape, some of the trees are beginning to offer a little color, and this morning I saw a man on the river in the back of a little boat, wrapped up snug against the 33-degrees, two fishing lines extended; I think I could hear his teeth chattering from where I stood on the bank.

• “Good morning!” I called out.
• “The char are supposed to be running,” he responded, as if that justified the absurdity of it all.
• “If I see any I’ll be sure to let them know,” I laughed.

I do like March. I like the cool mornings and the often sunny days and the sense of promise the emerging springtime sows, liberally, as if foreshadowing the coming of Easter.

This is Lent to me; less somber and more about the latent possibility. In fact, as the “40-days” continue, I sometimes think of the early signs of spring color and the fresh shoots of green as small spiritual breakthroughs, building momentum as the weeks pass, eventually multiplying and converging to tell the full story of new life.

Each one of us just a single shoot, an isolated pop of color. Then, together, growing into a full landscape of joyous celebration.

If we want to experience that level of vibrancy and color and celebration at Easter – and beyond, then a few more weeks of nurturing the soil (worshiping God) and watering (the Spirit) and sunshine (Son-shine) are in order.

So if the photograph – above – of the lone flower emerging in the woods represents Lent… then this image (right), taken at Duke Gardens March 31, 2023, tells the story of Easter Sunday.

I will see you for worship in church this weekend, where we all are being nurtured in the good soil – DEREK