Hola!

Whenever spring arrives, it feels like everything starts to bloom back to life. The bright sun and the warm weather fuel my body. It is not surprising, given my background.

Growing up, there were only two seasons: heat and rain. Living in the humid heat of the coast of Honduras, where tropical weather is the norm, did not prepare me for the typical four seasons experienced across North America. When I moved to the US in winter 2017, I had to purchase coats because the sweaters I brought were not warm enough. While the extra layers helped physically, I was not prepared for how they affected my emotional and mental health. It was one of the most difficult seasons of my life, filled with many changes happening simultaneously.

Seasons changing has given me a new perspective on God’s character. He is ever-present and never changing. He is a God that remains the same amidst every shift and change. He remains constant as the leaves change colour and wither or when the flowers bloom. He is near when the ground beneath my feet is slippery, when it is muddy, and when the grass is green. He is patient with us when we resist change and feel so unprepared for the new things that are happening in our lives. Whether it is a new job, community, or a devastating loss, He is Emmanuel, God with us.

As we prepare and do our “spring cleaning” and exchange the coat for the T-shirt, I want to invite you to think about the things that we need to put away or put on. What do we need to shift or let go of? What do we need to surrender to the hands of the One who calms the storms to a whisper and stills the waves? Where in our hearts and minds do we need to make space for the sun to shine brightly? Where do we need to let the God of resurrection make the pastures green?

Let us invite the Good Shepherd into this new season and watch Him do what only He can do.

-Marlen Lane