The Green WOW

It never fails that I get surprised and amazed by this time of year. Seemingly overnight the trees go from sky-scratching sticks to green-flocked velvet sentinels. They don't make a big self-proclamation of their transformation, because their green splendor shouts for itself. Also, if it just rains, the trees do not do so well--nor if it is just sunny. It takes both.

Most years the long coldness of winter ponderously plods into the dampness of a wet spring. But not this year. Lots of sunshine and much warmer than normal temps have made this a spring to remember, but only after the rains of the past couple of days are we getting the green WOW.

As much as we Minnesotans enjoy our sunny days, without the rain the plants cannot thrive--and we like that even more. Someone recently said that the best parts of running are looking forward to a nice run and then recalling it once it is over. The run itself--not so much. Not sure that I would totally agree, but there is some truth there. Even for those of us who draw our fullest enjoyment from the full experience (rather than mostly the fitness results or companionship of running with friends), long runs are still long.

Just like the trees need both the unpleasant days and the pleasant to grow strong and tall, so we runners need the challenging days along with those that are downhill with the wind at our backs. So too in other areas of life. Do you know any of those people who were told that a life with Jesus would be all sweetness and light? Are you that person? (If so, I apologize that someone did not have the courage to tell you the whole story.)

Jesus told us that in this life we will have difficulty--the rainy days. And most people who try to live out their faith in real and engaging ways find this to be true. In some ways we do have troubles. But Jesus also promised the sunny days--but I will never leave you or forsake you. Like the trees, I need both types of days to grow stronger. The troubles are the test and His presence is the rest.

I wonder what the next green WOW will be in my faith journey? I really have no idea, but I am very curious. What is your next green WOW? Are you willing to embrace the rainy days for the prospect of the sunny ones?

Pressing on!
-Ken