PHOTO: Mary van Balen
Send victory like a dew, you heavens,
and let the clouds rain it down.
Let the earth open
for salvation to spring up.
Let deliverance, too, bud forth
which I, the Lord, shall create.
Is 45,7
Thinking of something budding at this time of year is hopeful. At the beginning of Advent, I bought a small Christmas Cactus plant for that reason. The first blossom has emerged, but a number of the tiny magenta buds have dropped. I don’t know that that means; I hope not that no more buds will open.
Today’s first reading reminded me of my new plant, and of the cold blanketing bulbs and plants outside. When I think of the earth being “open,” as Isaiah writes, I think of spring planting when farmers plow and gardeners turn over soil with spades and trowels. But, thinking of the earth’s openness in this season brings something else to mind.
The earth must be “open” to receive cold, snow, icy rain, and longer nights, in order to be ready for spring growth to rise from its dark embrace. Some seeds need to freeze to germinate while others need to survive heat of a fire.
My heart must be open to “cold” seasons when darkness lasts longer and no growth is evident. Openness is not just for warm, comfortable time. We can cultivate an attitude of openness to God’s Word at all times in our lives: times of joy and light, times of sorrow and darkness; times of security and times when the future is a menacing unknown.
God is always sending grace our way; sending the Word to take root in our heart no matter the season within or without.
© 2010 Mary van Balen
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