Pollen

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
- Romans 6:1-4 ESV

I have many friends and acquaintances living and working in the North and the northern Midwest who continue to deal with snow and ice, and I feel for them.

Yet, here in the south, I have green junk covering my car… and somehow making it into my nose and chest.

My metallic blue car now looks almost pea green.
The windshield is instantly covered with the Yellow/Green film just after I wash it off.
Deep breaths are hard to come by.
In one moment noses run and in the next, stuffy and congested.
Eyes burn.
Throats itch.
Sneezes and/or coughs rain in the air.

Then in the next breath, we notice the beauty of the dogwood trees and the azaleas beginning to bloom.
The birds singing their happy song as they begin their nesting.
The brown of the winter turning to green before our eyes.
And with that green, a rainbow of colors begin to fill in the landscape all around us.

Ah (and achoo).... Signs of Spring are all around us.

New Life.
New Beginning.
Same Truth.
Never Changing.

As I take in all that Spring has to offer, I can’t help but think of the new life that is blooming/happening all around me.

And especially as Easter approaches, my mind goes back to that place, that time that Jesus became real to me.
That moment in time when the cross and death were no longer some story that I had heard a time or two, but cruel reality…
And to when the resurrection was more than just some fairytale, but a truth-filled reality.

At that moment…
Life began again.
Sin forgiven.
Grace and mercy given.
Eternal life promised forever.

So now, each Spring instead of cursing the pollen and it’s yellow/green fog.
Instead of becoming angry and frustrated with the red, itchy eyes and the dry itch in my throat.
Instead of wondering why I don’t just move to some island paradise and get away from all the green junk in the air.
I am thankful and remember the new life that it brings...

And the new life I have been given.

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem