Monday, March 30, 2009

The Difference Between Winter and Spring

Living in the deep South, winter tends to be milder than in the Midwest where I grew up, and spring arrives gloriously earlier. And so it has happened this past week. A few days of rain, and--poof!--spring arrived. Trees are in full flower, lawns need immediate attention from myriad green sprouts, and there is a dense, yellow-green coating over everything (pine pollen...welcome to the south).

One of the beautiful things about spring occurred to me last week as I passed a window: Spring is warmer than winter.

Some of you got there ahead of me, but hear me out. As I approached a window last week, I noticed the sun shining invitingly through. However, in the South, it does that pretty much all year long. What I noticed as I reached the window was that there was now more than light coming through the window; there was also heat.

Now, the sun's rays bring a true promise, not a false one, of warmth. Though it is not yet warm enough for my badly-thinned blood, it is certainly warmer than it has been, and I am grateful.

And it occurred to me that this comparison is the perfect metaphor for depression. Some of you know that I experienced a clinical depression many years ago (I described it here), and that memory still shapes me in so many ways. I remember distinctly that I could not sense the good and reasonable things in my life during that time. It was as if I could see the light, but I couldn't' feel it. True, good things just couldn't reach my soul, and so I lived on in a hopeless, cold place, so very alone.

If you haven't experienced a depression like this--and may you never!--please allow me to say that that cold hole is not one you can just crawl out of. If you know me, you know I'm not really given to negativism or pessimism. But when I found myself in that place, I.could.not.get.out. I sensed that the world around me wasn't as cold and lifeless as I felt it was, but no amount of trying could make me feel that blessed heat.

Only God could pull me out of that pit and shine His warm and glorious face on mine once again. And He did. May my lips never cease to praise Him and remember how the truth of the Son warmed my soul!

I'm so glad it's spring again in my heart. In fact, it might just be summer now.

Warm from His light,
-J

I love the LORD, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned his ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, save me!" The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, He saved me. -Psalm 116:1-6, NIV

A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without Him, who can eat or find enjoyment? -Ecclesiastes 2:24-25, NIV

(c) 2009

7 comments:

Beth@playinwiththepaulsens! said...

we have cold windy sun here.

Sarah@Life in the Parsonage said...

That Yoga DVD is really great and it was cheap too! I've done Pilates before, but never Yoga and Trainer Bob makes it totally do-able and HARD :) Let me know what you think of it if you end up getting it.

Anonymous said...

I haven't finished reading yet but careful now on the immediate attention needed by lawn. I hear from good sources that it gets pretty good attention and enjoyed some just yesterday as the loose ends were raked off the top. It's manacurist assures me it simply can't be cut yet cuz of seeding going on, but another good source tells me there's a spot on schedule for it as well as weed and feed.

Back to reading now...

ShalomSeeker said...

Beth: SOOO sorry! It rained here last week. Does that count? ;-)

Sarah: Thanks! I'm gonna give it a shot. I'll let you know. :-D

Anon: 1.) I know who you are. 2.) I was referring to lawns in GENERAL, not any specific lawn, especially one so well maintained as yours. 3.) I believe it just stopped raining YESTERDAY, so NO ONE has been able to manage their lawns yet. Feel better? ;-)
-J

Anonymous said...

BTW - someone needs to help anon learn to spell manicurist.

And yes, I think that person does feel better :). Their neighbor did his lawn Sunday but because it was Sunday and bball was on and then it got chilly ... well, really, who can compete with the neighbor at that point.

Anonymous said...

Well put J, so many people I talk to don't really understand sadness you can't just pull your self out of. Thinks for your thoughts and I to am warm and sunny inside. Thanks a lot to your help. It's your youngest sister, for some reason it will not let me log in.

Anonymous said...

Long time, no blog. Are you okay?