Ah, that little springtime!

"Ah, that little springtime..."

As I walked out of my front door this morning to take my daughter to school I was immediately greeted by a beautiful sunrise and the kind of temperature that is 'spring cool': still chilly but you know spring is coming. Moments such as these around here are often followed by the phrase (uttered by folks who moved to Texas from colder climes) "now this is why I moved to Texas!" It is a sentiment that acknowledges both the beauty of the moment and girds one for the summer heat that will be arriving shortly.

Today is the last day of winter.

Even the earth itself seems to acknowledge the inevitable transition from death to new life.

And here we find ourselves, nearly in the middle of Lent, preparing to walk with Christ through his Passion and then to celebrate his Rising.

Truth be told, my first thought when experiencing this glorious morning was the reminder of a few other glorious mornings I had the pleasure of experiencing eleven years ago this month in the ecumenical community of Taize. The famed quote from Pope John  XXIII, "Taize, ah that little springtime!" carries some literal import for me!

My pilgrimage to Taize during Lent in March of 2003 came at an exciting season in my life as I was transitioning from being a life-long student to preparing to head out into the ministry field in a new community. This was a season of deep transition for me and the opportunity to process parts of the journey in such a sacred space with a gracious community was an incredible gift. 

Perhaps the best gift I received at Taize was the new found ability to embrace mystery, to realize the right relationship between Creator and created. On those beautiful French spring mornings I became more and more comfortable, experienced release in simplicity, even, with the idea that my calling is to be faithful and bold to what God was calling me to do in the world and to trust God with the rest. I still often recall this sensation in times of stress and anxiety.  Those moments continue to empower in me moments of resurrection that are fueled by the Holy Spirit.

I give God thanks for the spring!

Where are you preparing to experience new life in your ministry, in your life?