In the midst of reading a book for college about ‘creative research methods’, I’m inspired to ‘be creative’. Is it a God-prompt? Or just a desire to indulge in an enjoyable hobby? Either way, it is spring down here in the south-east corner of mainland Australia and a time for new beginnings.
And so I write.
I have yet another new good intention. Most weeks (I dare not say ‘every week’), I would like to commit a couple of hours to just ‘play’ with words and images. My blog is the obvious place ‘to park’ what emerges. If you are reading along here, then to you I say ‘thank you’.
Today, I gave myself the prompt word: ‘spring’. Here are some random thoughts on spring in no particular order.
Spring – the season
In North China, where I once lived, spring brings life-giving change. Winters are drab and grey. It is far too cold for anything to flourish. But with spring comes colour – pink and white blossoms, bright yellow winter jasmine (in Chinese called 迎春花, literally meaning ‘welcome spring flower’), muted pinky-orange-maroon flowering quince blossoms, as well as tender green leaves on trees and bushes. Spring is super special in places with long, colourless winters.
Spring – a verb, noun, adverb and/or adjective
I enjoy words, and am thinking about how we use the English word ‘spring’. There is a common element of something new coming forth in each of the following instances.
‘He has a spring in his step.’
‘The cat used to spring up onto the bed, but now she uses steps.’
‘Water from a mountain spring refreshes a weary traveller.’
‘I need to spring clean my home … but not today.’
‘I’m no spring chicken.’
And then there are a number of Biblical references to spring (as a season), such as 2 Samuel 11:1, which says, “In the spring at the time when kings go of to war….” I often mutter this verse completely out of context when I attack with a gardening tool the onion weed in my backyard each spring.
Then there are Biblical references to springs of water. Of course, the original Biblical words in Greek or Hebrew for spring (the season) and spring (a spring of water) are not the same. But I’m playing with English words here. Which is why I spent time today pondering the following verse….
Seated by a well, Jesus told the Samaritan woman, “… the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14 NIV)
I understand that in the original Greek, the idea was of a spring of water springing up, though using different words. What a lovely picture. The Spirit of Jesus which indwells us (see John 7:37-39) bursts out of us, washing over those around us. It cannot be contained. May we be faithful channels of this living water.
Spring – the Chinese word for the season
As a visual learner and a word-nerd, I enjoy observing pictures in written Chinese language. The word for ‘spring’ is a beauty. The character, 春 (chūn) is made up of three parts. At the bottom is the sun – 日. At the top is the character for ‘plentiful’ – 丰 – (see all those lines, i.e. plenty) as well as the number ‘eight’ – 八.
All up, the character for ‘spring’ in Chinese, 春 (chūn), visually portrays the sun shining and creation transitioning from winter’s barrenness to a time of plenty.
Spring rains
Much as I enjoy the pleasant aspects of spring as described above, spring also brings unsettled weather. Last night, it bucketed rain. Three days ago, I set out on a short afternoon walk in sunshine, but then before I had even reached the end of the street (albeit a long street), a strong wind picked up, clouds raced across the sky, and the heavens opened, absolutely drenching me.
We need the sun and the rain both, but one is definitely more palatable than the other. Starting anything new also usually involves ups and downs, bringing times of enjoyment and of frustration. One is more pleasant than the other but sometimes we just need to grit our teeth and work through the difficulties. As I write these words, life is good. Birds are twittering, bees are buzzing and blossoms are blooming. But life isn’t always like a pleasant Saturday spring afternoon, and that’s okay.
Spring in Narnia
In Jesus we have a great hope. I wonder if we will have seasons in the new heavens and earth? If the effects of sin are done with, including death, will there be any more autumn and winter?
I’m not alone in my ponderings. The great thinker and writer, C.S. Lewis, apparently thought along similar lines. In his famous book ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’, Mr Beaver refers to ‘an old rhyme’ in Narnia which says:
Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.
Come soon, Lord Jesus.