Warm temperatures and sunny days inspire working in the garden. This time of year, that includes clearing the debris of the previous two seasons -- dry leaves, twigs and acorns, hundreds and hundreds of acorns, many of which have sprouted and have to be pulled from the ground.
Those acorns which fell in abundance this past fall appeared dead. But, given time in the soil and watered with the rains, they've sprouted and have a strong root reaching down into the earth with a green sprout reaching up towards the sky.
From death, comes life.
The Rose of Sharon, also known as Althea, (Hibiscus syriacus) bushes replanted several years ago have grown taller than me. This time of the year, they appear dead. But, there is a tiny flicker of green peering from behind a dead bloom left from last year's flowers.
Spring is generally celebrated as a time of new life. Plants sprout. Young are born to forest animals. Farmers welcome new chicks, calves, lambs, kids, colts and piglets.
It is a subject that has fascinated writers for centuries.
In "Parables of the Cross Life," Lilias Trotter, (1853-1928) an English missionary to Algiers, examined the paradox of life springing from death in the analogy of seeds dying to bring new life. An artist, Trotter forsook the life of ease and went to Algeria in north Africa. There, she continued her paintings and drawings while ministering to the people there. Her book, in the original, is full of drawings of native plants in various stages of growth.
"It is in the stages of a plant's growth, its budding and blossoming and seed-bearing that this lesson has come to me: the lesson of death in its delivering power. It has come as no mere far-fetched imagery, but as one of the many voices in which God speaks, bringing strength and gladness from His Holy Place," wrote Trotter.
The apostle Paul wrote: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." Galatians 2:20
These words mean the breaking and collapse of my independence brought about by my own hands, Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) wrote.
Today, in our life of "if it feels good, do it" and "you deserve it," we hardly understand the concept of self-denial or sacrifice.
"Has that breaking of my independence come?" Chambers wrote. "All the rest is religious fraud. The one point to decide is -- will I give up? ... The passion of Christianity comes from deliberately signing away my own rights and becoming a bondservant of Jesus Christ. Until I do that, I will not begin to be a saint."
As life sprouts and blooms around us in the natural world, let us consider what bad habits, character qualities need to be put to death to bring good habits and character to life.
In Colossians 3, we are commanded to put to death "fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry ... anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth ... lies" and put on "tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another and forgiving one another ... love ... peace of God ... be thankful."
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Editor's note: Annette Beard is the managing editor of The Times of Northeast Benton County. She has nine children, four sons-in-law, seven grandsons and two granddaughters. She can be reached at [email protected].
Editorial on 03/23/2016