This past week, my dear friend Stephanie was visiting from south Texas. I was looking forward to showing her the beauty of Michigan’s spring greens, bright blue skies and plethora of flowering trees and critters busily preparing for the warm days of summer. Although we experienced more rain, clouds, haze and cool temperatures than I had hoped, we saw some spectacular sights.
A pair of robins had built a nest on our downspout right next to the picture window. With some careful sneaking, we were able to watch the babies being fed and Stephanie was blessed to see the fledglings take their first solo flight!
We visited lake Michigan and stuck a toe into the brisk blue water, walked on the sandy beaches and ate Mackinac Island fudge. At the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary we watched the male swans in their mating dances, each trying to outdo the other. We visited the Chipman Preserve to witness a field of blue lupine in full bloom, where bumblebees were busy with the dance of pollination.
We even saw a bald eagle swoop down and fly right in front of our dining room window, then soar out over the water! His enormous size and white tail were unmistakable in the soft evening light.
Later that evening, we were sitting outside – with blankets around our shoulders – and Stephanie noted that it felt like winter in Houston, which made me think about the amazing transformation of spring. When we’re in the midst of winter, it’s pretty hard to imagine spring will EVER come!
This made me think about God and his beautiful world and promise. We wait for Him as we wait for spring, walking by faith and not by sight.
God’s Glory will one day split the night and we will dance in the light of His full splendor! In the meantime, I will do my best to wait… and walk in faith.
And giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. Colossians 1:12-13 NIV
-Jan E