A Rock, A Robin, and a Redbud

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 

Spring has sprung! As the spring equinox brings more light to earth, it’s finally warming up in Phoenix. Yet, we are still experiencing some chilling, dark times with random violence and division casting shadows on our world. As we encounter the start of Holy Week with Palm Sunday, we will walk with Jesus through 1st century dark times of violence and division. Jesus was exalted with palm branches as he entered Jerusalem, yet his rise culminated in his arrest, beating, and crucifixion. Fear seemed to win the day.  

Jesus walks with us through the present darkness, but we trust that hope wins the day! What gets us through Holy Week is the promise that Easter is coming. We hold onto hope knowing that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome! But lately it does seem to feel like Holy Week every week, so I’ve been looking for signs of hope to hang onto. As Ralph Waldo Emerson reminds us, “Nature is loved by what is best in us.” In spite of the worst of our humanity, nature shared three signs of hope with me recently: a rock, a robin, and a redbud!  

The rock has a natural pink heart engraved at the center reminding us God is with us. The robins I encountered squawking and chasing at a local garden delighted me beyond measure! What a surprise as I have not seen a cheerful robin since moving from Wisconsin in 2014. Surprises from nature can lift our spirits. My first ever sighing of a Texas Redbud tree with its shocking, vibrant pink buds illuminated by the sun in the desert landscape was a blessing! Nature blesses us with beauty beyond measure.

 Jesus blesses us with three gifts: Faith, Hope, and Love. These three are our better nature. Look upon these signs of hope and trust that the light shines in the darkness. Faith endures. Hope prevails. Love wins. Look for signs of hope in the days ahead and may God bless your heart and lift your spirits in surprising ways. 

In hope, Pastor Andrea