In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

Wow, what a beautiful couple of days this has been. Rebekah and I, of course, have been caught up in all things eye surgery, but we have not failed to notice how amazingly inviting the outside is right now.

It is a little disconcerting to see what a complete mess the MaulHall garden has become. Literally thousands of small branches, pine cones, and emergent weeds. I did have the roof, gutters, and windows cleaned this week, but everything else will require a major intervention!

Yet, here and there, a spray of daffodils, a purple iris bloom, the beginnings of possibility on an azalea bush or two. Reminders that the intricate and beautiful cycles persist via the rhythm of the seasons, the inherent will of life to prevail.

We live in an age here in America – especially in the political arena – where it would be easy to see only the overwhelming challenges, the decay, the darkness and the rot – to hear nothing but the insistent drumbeats of hatred and evil. Yet I am persuaded that these dark clouds will never have the final say, because I am more attuned to the deeper truths of life and eternity and beauty and possibility and love and light, and the ascendency – the preeminence – of goodness.

Ask the daffodils, talk with the iris, check in with Mr. Max, consider the emerging springtime, open your eyes…

And so I choose to believe. Not to ignore the other stuff, but to believe. Because “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us.