“From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised,” (Psalm 113:3).

Every year, the arrival of spring brings the promise of new beginnings — new life. Here are some things I like best about spring: I like the fact that even though the first day of spring comes in what still feels like the dead of winter, there is hope because we all know that the worst is behind us. Sure, we’re always going to get at least one more blizzard before winter says good-bye, and sure, we’re going to have to deal with melting snow and flooding and mud and mess everywhere, and sure, we know we’re going to get stuck and have to be pulled out, but we know it won’t last because it’s spring. 

When those first warm days arrive, we step outside expecting biting cold, but instead are greeted with warmer breezes that invite us to unzip our jackets rather than button up. And then we get that first warm rain, and the frost settles and the puddles disappear, the grass turns green and the great outdoors beckons us once again. 

In spring, the sunrises are as beautiful as the sunsets. The day breaks in vibrant color signaling the brightness of what lies ahead. At dusk, when we take in the beauty of the sunset, it reminds us of the hope of another good day tomorrow. Each day, we marvel at how much more light we have until it gets dark. There is so much promise.

“A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head,” (Mark 4:26-28).

Every spring the farmer takes his dead seeds from the bag and buries them in the ground, fully expecting them to take root and grow. They always do. I am amazed — and it never gets old —  every time I witness those little green spikes coming up through the soil and how, within a few days, they’ve gone from a lifeless kernel to a sprouted seed. From there, a simple spike, then leaves, stalks, tassels, and you know, the rest.

In speaking of Himself, Jesus said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit,” (John 12:24). The miracle of the resurrection is played out before our very eyes every single year in our gardens and in our fields and in all of God’s creation. How many of us miss the wonder of that? 

Something else about spring that is wonderful is that there are no bugs. There are no flies, mosquitos, wasps or gnats to bite and irritate us. When the weather gets warm, we can leave the front door open for a couple hours in the afternoon and not worry about swarms of flying insects overtaking us. We can work outside to our hearts desire and the only thing that sticks to our skin is sweat and dirt — and those are good things.  

April showers bring May flowers and soon the morel mushroom hunters will be out in force searching under dead trees and bark trying to stay under the radar so they can keep their “spot” a secret. All of this is from the hand of the Creator. Use wisely what God has given. 

— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Kevin Cernek is senior pastor of Martintown Community Church.