…For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. The flowers have already appeared in the land; The time has arrived for pruning the vines, And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land. Song of Songs 2:11-12

Ah, spring in the mountains! It is finally here. Daffodils, purple hyacinths and occasional tulips have poked through winter to gladden my heart. Robins awaken me in the morning and later at dusk bid me to quiet down. The hummingbirds arrived in chilly April and bravely hang around waiting for flower heads to appear. By mid morning the sky’s painted cerulean blue until clouds form patterns of light and shadow. Hillsides around our home are carpeted with yellow balsam root and wild lupines. Some spring mornings it’s so lovely, I can hardly breathe.

Spring is the shortest season in our area. It comes late, almost reluctantly and doesn’t hang around very long. In a few weeks, the summer season will arrive and while I love summer “when the living is easy” and carefree, especially in this beautiful recreational area, it is in spring that I’m most grateful for God’s blessings. I pay closer attention to small and large changes occurring outside, whether it is the aspen suddenly leafing out or the chipmunks coming back to harass the dog. Spring makes me restless to dream dreams and have visions for what is ahead, to move out of winter doldrums and into new life.

As in natural seasons so in spiritual new beginnings. When Nicodemus, a Pharisee and lawyer , questioned Jesus about the impossibility of being born again, Jesus answered,

“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. John 3:5-6

When we are born again, the old man dies and we receive the new life of Christ in us. The former debris piles choking life are discarded, just like winter slash. Jesus “the Sun of righteousness with healing in His wings” comes into the heart to shine light, brighter than earth’s sun on a new May morning. In Jesus’ healing light, love and holiness given through the Holy Spirit, fleshly concerns die; the spiritual life is transformed. New seeds begin to grow in our hearts to bear fruit in later seasons. In the springtime when we’re born again, the Lord invites us to awaken out of sleep and to follow Him.

Rise up, my love, my fair one. And come away! Song. 2:13

This new life in Christ is the most wondrous of my life’s season. Not for me is either lush summer or autumn’s glory. Certainly it isn’t cold, cold winter. For me it is unquestionably spring. Every day of being reborn is a new day that the Lord has made in which to rejoice and be glad. Every morning winter is past; the rain is over and gone. God’s love and mercy continually renews surrendered hearts with living water so that day by day a longing restlessness comes over us. In his “Confessions” St Augustine described it thus:

“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”

Augustine’s eloquent description of the reborn soul is simply “spring fever”, when we’ve fallen in love with Jesus and are hopelessly smitten.