There is Beauty in Hope

It’s been awhile since we’ve had a real winter here in Missouri. Several years have gone by without any significant snow accumulation or school cancellation. It feels like Mother Nature is making up for lost time this go-round. As I write this on January 16th, I have one eye on several inches of snow slowly melting outside my window and the other on a treacherous forecast for the weekend. I don’t love winter, but I don’t hate it either. It is more than a necessary evil that gets us ready for a beautiful spring. There is beauty in hope.

How folks viewed the recent snowstorm likely depended on where they were when the heavy flakes were falling. If you were safe in a warm and fully stocked home, it was likely a beautiful evening, but if you were stuck on a freeway or surface street trying to get home, the snow was anything but lovely. I believe our present circumstances greatly color our outlook on the world. We appreciate our health more after going through an illness. We are most thankful for companionship after periods of separation and isolation. We rejoice in the warmth of the sun and the budding of flowers more after a particularly harsh winter. There is beauty in hope.

January is the coldest month of the year, February is the shortest, and spring arrives in March. I know there are plenty of cold, grey days and dark nights ahead of us, but this isn’t the end of our journey. I saw wonderful things this past weekend as strangers pushed cars up icy hills and folks shoveled their neighbor’s driveway. The good news is all around us if we have the eyes to see. There is beauty in hope.

St. Augustine encourages us to keep our eyes on Jesus through both the good and difficult times.

. “Jesus is beautiful in heaven and beautiful on earth. He is beautiful in his mother’s womb, beautiful in his parent’s arms, beautiful in his miracles, beautiful in inviting people to new life, beautiful in not worrying about death, beautiful in giving his life, beautiful in heaven. Listen to the son with understanding and let not the weakness of the flesh distract your eyes from the splendor of his beauty.”

There is beauty in hope!

In Hope and Confidence,
Pastor Dave