All Things New

Spring has come, and it is a lovely time of year. There are numerous reasons why I look forward to spring, some of which include: flowers blooming, tree blossoming, birds singing, birds returning, wildlife enjoying the outdoors and introducing their young to the world, the smell of fresh green grass, chilly mornings and warm afternoons, cheery people, spring festivals (including Fiesta in San Antonio), pulling t-shirts back out and dusting them off, the beginning of the baseball season (a hopeful time for Pirates fans!), the push towards basketball playoffs (hopefully a hopeful time for Spurs fans...), the excitement and anticipation of summer break, etc.

While I was recently reflecting upon how thankful I am for the change in seasons, I realized two key reasons why I'm so glad about the new spring season. First, that I seem to find myself always excited and thankful for a change in seasons, whether it's the first taste of spring, the beginning of summer, the beautiful change to autumn, or the welcoming of winter.

My second realization is that I am excited about the new spring season because it represents the beginning of new things. Spring is the beginning of new green growth, of warmer days to come, of new offspring...you get the idea. During a recent bible study meeting, our small group talked about how, as Christians, we despair for how this current world is broken knowing that it is not as it ought to have been before the fall of God's creation. Yet at the same time, we find hope that things can be restored as we are promised that God is making "all things new" in His work towards salvation, redemption, and glorification. As the small group discussion connected in my mind with my recent thoughts about the new spring season, I came away with an even greater appreciation for springtime.

This season, I find encouragement that as I enjoy the "newness" of spring, it is a representation of God's redeeming work, and that my excitement for the new season is just a taste of the excitement we'll enjoy when God has fully made all things new.