Spring has sprung!

Written by Pastor McCarty on March 31, 2014. Posted in Pastors Pen

Fo us in California today is a great day because the rains have arrived.  We have experienced one of our driest winters in history.  While much of the country has been getting a lot of rain, snow, sleet, and ice, we have been really dry.  The “drought” word has been bandied about by many in our State.  But, today, we are getting a really nice rain.  And, the rest of the week is to be quite wet.  For us spring has sprung.

But, there is a more important sign that spring has sprung.  Today, all around the country, open day baseball games are being played.  This, my friend, is a telltale sign that we are leaving winter behind and are headed to Spring and on into Summer and Fall.  For some of us at least, this is the official opening of Spring.

Ernie Harwell, the longtime voice of the Detroit Tiger’s radio broadcast, would begin each Spring training season with this quote from the Song of Solomon.  “Fo lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.  The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” (Song of Solomon 2:11-12)  Though he just might have been taking this out of context, it sure works for setting the stage of a long baseball season.

Now, I know, many of you couldn’t care less about baseball in general or the SF Giants or even the Oakland A’s.  But, for me, I love this time of year.  For me, I’m looking forward to Madison Bumgarner throwing that first pitch.  I always seem to enter the new baseball season with a renewed hope and optimism.  I may have my heart broken by October.  But, I usually enjoy the ride.

Yet, baseball, flowers, or April showers aren’t really the most important events to Spring.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important day on our calendar.  Without HIs death, burial, and resurrection, His birth would have been useless.  Without His work on the cross, His work on the earth would shave been futile.  Yes, THIS is the reason we look forward to Spring every year.  THIS is the foundation of our celebration.  And, we will never be disappointed in this celebration.

Go ahead, if you are a baseball fan, cheer for your team.  Yell, scream, encourage, and talk about your team.  But, don’t forget the more important work of Christ on the cross.

GO GIANTS

Tags: A's, baseball, Bumgarner, Christ, Detroit, Easter, Ernie Harwell, Giants, Jesus, opening day, pitching, rain, resurrection, showers, Song of Solomon, Spring, sprung, Tiger's

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