It’s coming – can you feel it? I have a strange feeling sitting here in my house looking out of my window. stop to analyze what it could be. Thinking through this weekend, I realize that it was amazing outside. We're just now starting to get those warm days. It's been great weather to go and just play outside. As I walk around the neighborhood, I see little flowers starting to bud. The animals seem more active as they play in the sunlight. The world seems to be doing the long stretch after a cold winter. But there's something more than just the change of weather that is different; my house is quiet. Then it hits me; this is the first time I've been at home by myself since I can remember. All my kids are in school – AT school. This is the first time that has happened in a really longtime. Maybe, just maybe, life will get back to normal.

This has been a year like no other. All of our lives have been affected in one way or another. We haven't been able to gather in full community; we haven't been able to see loved ones, and we've been restricted from doing things that we would normally do in our everyday lives. It has almost been a full year since our lives were turned upside down. Butt here is hope. You know life will never be completely the same again, but there is hope that we will get back those things that we didn't realize were so precious to us: community, gatherings, family and friends physically surrounding us. With Covid numbers going down and restrictions being lifted, there is hope.

It's interesting that it's happening around this time of year that we get a real taste of hope for the future. This is the time of year when we, as a community of believers, focus on hope. During Lent, we journey to the cross. This is a time of self-reflection, self-denial, spiritual discipline and repentance. But it’s also a time of renewal. When I think of Lent, I think of the first hints of spring when buds are just starting to develop, and spring is almost ready to break the long winter cold. This is when we long for and hope for that day of ultimate celebration, Easter.

It’s coming – the end to this time apart. It’s coming, a time to gather with family and friends that we have been separated from for so long. It’s coming, a time when we can worship together by singing loudly and holding hands. It’s coming, a time of rebirth where the flowers will be in full bloom and spring has arrived. But until then, we live in the hope that can only come from God and our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

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Isaiah 40:31-NewInternational Version

31 but those who hope in the Lord

    will renew their strength.

   They will soar on wings like eagles;

    they will run and not grow weary,

    they will walk and not be faint.

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Prayer: God of the Cross, during this time of quarantine and restrictions, we have felt loneliness and separation from our lives that we once had. Yet, through you we have hope oflife renewed. Help us during this time of waiting to focus on you while we grow in hope. In Jesus name we pray. AMEN

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