March 22nd, 2021

Spring is officially here! Here’s a quote from Mark Twain on the subject. “It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want — oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!” The nearing of the end of the pandemic only amplifies that “you want it so!” feeling.

The pattern written into God’s universe is one of demise and renewal, death and resurrection. Every renewal/resurrection moment you experience now is a harbinger, a foretaste, a kind of promissory note of the World Without End. As St. Paul says, “To Him be the glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus unto all generations, world without end. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21)

Deep in each heart is an ache for that World. Spring brings that ache a little closer to the surface.

“O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (A Collect for the Renewal of Life – BCP p. 99)