Follows Winter

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." [Romans 5:5]

From where I sit today, it seems true to me that we are almost always waiting for something. Sometimes the waiting is anticipatory, sometimes full of dread, sometimes a big dose of both. And then sometimes waiting is just waiting, without much feeling at all. And sometimes those are the good days.

And then there's hope which lies on the strong side of waiting because it is based in trust. Hope is better and richer than mere waiting. It is also better than optimism, which gets by turning a blind eye, which is likely to leave you stranded by the side of the road like cheap tires on a hot day when the going gets really rough.

Of course, the trust that feeds hope can be a slippery thing sometimes, especially when it has to do with things that are precious to you, like life and love and God. Sometimes you have to squeeze really tight to hold onto it.

But, fortunately for us, it's not all about us. Hope, when it comes down to it, is a gift of God, poured out on us in the form of love.

So today I am waiting, but I am also hopeful, because this morning I looked up and saw little pink flowers on the bare branches outside the window and felt something strong and sweet poured out into my heart.

You DO know what follows winter...don't you?