April Fools! I'm not in Paris this April, but I am listening to Sarah Vaughan's "April in Paris." I am longing to be in Paris this April, but the next best thing is to be in Chico. Look at how beautiful it is here at Table Mountain! This is my friend Jeannie and I jumping for joy at the Spring. I've decided it's time to get back on the blog train. Thank you for your patience with my silence. I think I've needed this time to think and pray and process what is next. So what's next? I sense that I'm headed back to Paris for a season, but the details of how and when are yet to unfold.
I've been thinking lately about the change of seasons. In Chico, we have turned the corner in April and Spring is in the air. Upper Park is covered in wildflowers, the air is warmer, people are out again on bikes and crowding in together at the Farmer's Markets. The change in weather seams to bring a change too in spirits. There is a lightnessto the feel of the town after the cold winter (OK, not that cold when I think about how cold I was last winter in France).
As we celebrate Easter Sunday tomorrow, the blosoming flowers signify the new life in the resurrection. Yesterday I had the opportunity to go to meditation in the church and read through some of the Passion stories and take communion. I have been reminded this week in my reading that Jesus offers freedom, a right relationship based on His love for us and not on who we decide is "in" or "out." On Maundy Thursday, Bidwell Pres had a service where we were asked to think about God's faithfulness in the past. Just as God was faithful to the Israelities, and just as He has been faithful to us in the past, so will He be in the future.
At the moment when we have experienced loss, when things seem hopeless, the remembrance of Christ on the cross gives us hope. On that day in history as the most loving man who ever lived died and a cold cloud fell over the land, his friends and relatives felt hopeless. They too couldn't see past what they felt, but with the resurrection come a miracle. The oppression was lifted and a freedom that is unexpected delivered them. New life was evident, in greens and blues and sunlight that seemed forever lost.
Lately I've been challenged by the Psalms and how waiting and hope often go together. "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord." (Psalm 130) "O Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore." (Psalm 131). May we wait will expectant hope this Easter because He is Risen! It is with this joyful waiting that I look to see what is next for me in France.
Wow, thank you for sharing that Andrea! I needed to hear that today! I'm sooo thankful for you and your insight and willingness to share it with us! :)
Posted by: Sara | April 11, 2009 at 12:30 PM