Dormant

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Romans 13:11

Go out side and look. The daffodils are blooming. The forsythias are full of color. The tips of the branches on the trees are starting to show the tiniest signs of new life. This is my absolute favorite time of year! Fall is beautiful. I love the pop of color that we get, but to me, there’s always some underlying sadness, because I know that the bleakness of winter is just behind it. But spring is glorious! New life is everywhere. Baby animals, and tiny flowers make me so happy. I’m glad to live in a part of the world in which Easter falls during a time that sings new life at the top of its lungs. It feels appropriate to celebrate the newness of life given to us by Christ’s sacrifice at a time when our environment is celebrating a return to growth.

Trees in winter are dreary to me. Oh, I know there is life in them, but if you only go by what you can see, they look dead. I know there’s a purpose to the lull in activity. Trees go into dormancy to protect themselves from the harshness of winter. If they were to keep their leaves and high amount of cellular water, when a freeze came, they would be killed by it. So, in order to survive the cold, they drop their leaves, and lower the amount of water stored inside them. But, how do trees know when it’s time to bud out again? I had no idea, so I did a bit of research. It turns out that trees are intuitive to their climate, and need a certain amount of cold weather, followed by a burst of warmth. They are occasionally nipped by a late frost, but they ‘mostly’ get it right and bud out with there is no longer danger of a freeze that could damage them.

It occurred to me that maybe, we as Christians have seasons of dormacy. When the outlook is bleak for one reason or another, we protect ourselves by letting go of things that could bring us danger, and pulling back from situations that we perceive as somehow dangerous. Christ is still alive inside us, but perhaps we have stopped growing and appear dead to those around us. This somber season of life can be disheartening.

I suppose I had a season of dormancy for a while. I got too busy. I let things get quiet in my soul. On the bright side, just as spring is riotous in its displays of beauty, when spring comes to a Christian, in the form of revival, the season of growth and an exponentially closer walk with the Lord make all of the winter gloominess disappear into distant memory.

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isaiah 57:15

Our great Savior is dwelling not only in heaven, but also in our tiny little human hearts. Check the weather my friends! Feel that warmth pushing you to begin the process of growth again. It’s time to bud out, open your eyes to the hope that lies within you, and allow that love that lives inside us to grow and blossom. Tend your tender spring growth and help it create the fruits it is designed to develop. The great Master Gardener is there and wants to nourish and protect you so that you grow and become even more fruitful. All we have to do is turn to Him.