My apartment faces the South and West so my first glimpse of the sunrise is from the “backside” with light shining on the hills and cliffs of West Duluth. This might give you an indication about the time of day I am writing this article!
As I sit here admiring the “backside sunrise,” it brings such joy to see the hills covered in green indicating new growth and possibilities. It reminds me of the movement in creation and in our lives that we call seasons.
In his book, Let Your Life Speak, Parker Palmer talks about the “mud and muck” of spring which creates the conditions for the rebirth. Whenever I think about or reread this portion of his book, I wonder what the mud and muck is in my life, at this time, which is helping to create something new.
It might be something small and seemingly insignificant or something huge and lifechanging. Sometimes the mud and muck is just a part of life, like our season of spring. And sometimes it is brought on by circumstances or events that we, or others, have done or experienced.
We are reminded in Ecclesiastes 3 that: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted…” Often when this Scripture text is read we end with “a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”
If we continue reading however we find these words: “What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.” Really, that is what it says!
Summer and fall are beautiful times to be in Duluth providing opportunities for times of reconnection to family and friends, God and even ourselves. I look forward to taking in the energy and fullness of the seasons.
I hope that if you are feeling stuck in the mud and muck of spring, you will find hope and happiness in the promise of new life and possibilities.
Peace and Joy,
Pastor Cindy