By Pastor Kyle Smith
Ellendale
As a kid, I seem to recall being asked frequently what my favorite time of year is, and I always said, “Spring.” The funny thing is, I enjoy spending time outside in the warm sunshine, so I enjoy summer more than spring. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized how I can both enjoy summer so much and yet always say spring is my favorite season.
Do I enjoy the muddy yards that often accompany spring? No. Do I enjoy the fact that one day it's warm and beautiful out and the next day there may be snow on the ground? Also no. Do I enjoy feeling like I need a jacket in the morning and short sleeves in the afternoon? Again, no. But when I have these experiences, they remind me that soon the grass will be green and stay green for some time, they remind me that consistently warm days are coming, they remind me that soon I will be able to walk outside in a T-shirt in the morning and stay in a T-shirt all day long. In other words, the reason why spring is my favorite season isn’t because I enjoy spring, but it’s because I enjoy summer. Spring is my favorite season not because of the season itself, but because I’m confident of what’s coming next.
Naturally, this leads me to consider not only our Gregorian calendar, but also the church calendar. We are coming off of Easter Day, which means the Lenten Season isn’t far behind us. Regarding the Lenten Season, I have heard people say things such as, “It’s too sad.” or, “I don’t want to feel discouraged.” As a result, some Christians would rather not participate in Lent whatsoever, or if they do, only Good Friday. Still, others would rather skip even Good Friday and jump straight to the “good part.”
Do I enjoy the penitential season of Lent, where there’s an even stronger focus than usual on the sorrow over my sin? Does it make me feel good writing sermons and preaching on Jesus’ journey to the cross, where He willingly was mocked, tortured, beaten, and put to death for my sin? Do I enjoy giving up something I enjoy, such as coffee, as a reminder that Jesus denied Himself and took up His cross for me? I can’t say any of these things give me joy. But do you know what it does for me? Observing the season of Lent reminds me of what Christ has done for me, it reminds me of what is to come, it helps to prepare my heart for Easter, grows my desire for and makes me that much more joyous on Easter Day.
In a way, I don’t enjoy the Lenten Season. And yet, the Lenten Season has started to become my favorite season in the church year, not because of what happens during Lent, but because of what Lent points forward to, because of what comes after Lent, Easter Sunday and Easter Season when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, who not only in His life and death, but also in His resurrection proved that He truly is God and that he crushed the serpent’s head and defeated sin, death, and the devil for us.
Usually, New Year Resolutions happen at, well, the new year. But it seems to me that, not only since it is springtime, a time of growth and new beginnings, but also with the joyous Easter Season in Christ’s resurrection, it may be a good time for us to reflect on our faith in Jesus. How are our spiritual disciplines going? Are we spending time in God’s Word as we would like? Are we spending time in prayer as we would like? Are we regularly gathering together as the body of Christ to receive the good gifts God has for us? Perhaps with all these new beginnings with the weather starting to feel more like spring, perhaps in light of what Christ has done for us on Good Friday/Easter Sunday, we may have a time of growth and new beginnings in our faith through the working of the Holy Spirit.