Today is Good Friday.
I've been thinking all day about what I want to write, because there are so many different directions I want to go, but all that keeps coming to mind are the words, "Death to Life."
I can't help but compare my soul stirring on Good Friday, to the four seasons. I'll explain.
FALL: In the fall, there is much beauty. In fact, it's my favorite season. The leaves are on fire, the crisp cold allows me to be cozy, and the smells I associate with the fall season, bring me much comfort and nostalgia. But, at the end of fall each year, I feel a sadness come over me, as I see the last leaves falling. I know that the dark winter months are coming and that I will be facing some cold, and sometimes lonely moments.
WINTER: Winter has become the hardest season for me as an adult. It is literally dark most of the day, due to daylight savings. My energy is low, I drag, and the amount of time it takes for me to muster myself up, and get motivated to do something, is daunting. To me, winter can feel hopeless. I don't want to stay in that time period longer than I have to. I start feeling ready to experience hope and light again.
SPRING: Alas, Spring comes! The trees and plants that have been dormant for months, start to display colors, growth, and brilliance again. The days are lighter, the birds are singing their rich melodies, and warmth begins to envelope me again. Life wells up and explodes with fresh smells and vibrant beauty for me to marvel at. Experiencing all of the new life gives my soul life. I am reminded that winter really doesn't last forever.
SUMMER: I see summer as an extension of Spring. Warmth, lightheartedness, and freedom. Oh, the freedom that summer brings. It's as if Summer is the time we get to actually enjoy what Spring has given us. We get to play, and be forever young. Maybe not literally, but the Summer always bring out the inner child in me; the me that I like so much. Summer is pure heaven.
Jesus spent his life preparing to die. I see Jesus' life before he was crucified as the season Fall. It was beautiful, and full of fire and energy, but it had to end. The last leaf falling off the trees, reminds of Jesus' last breath on the cross, where he declared, "It it finished."
Then there were three hours of darkness. Those three hours, where the world blackened, fascinate almost more than the resurrection itself. There was something mysterious, cosmic, and earth-shaking happening in that time. Winter models this time for me. It's dark cold, often confusing, depressing, and seemingly without hope. Much like I imagine those in the midst of that darkness felt during that window of time. Their king had just died a terrible death, and the amount of despair that must have been flowing through the world at that time is overwhelming to think about. It must have felt like perpetual winter.
To the world's surprise, Jesus' body is not found in the tomb, after three days, and He shows himself again for everyone to see. Death has no grasp or hold on him, and He is alive and full of life again. I love that Good Friday and Easter happen to be celebrated at the beginning of Spring. The symbolism is beautiful. Spring provides new life for all creation, just like Jesus' death and resurrection provides new life for us. The parallel is unbelievable to me.
But, in order for the new plants, leaves, flowers, and streams to have life, there had to be a season of darkness and death. There had to be winter. For new sprouts can't spring up when there are dead leaves hanging on the tree. The old must die for the new come. When the old dies, and we are waiting in hopelessness for new life to well up in us we are living in winter; we are walking through our own three hours of darkness. Spring then shows its face, and we appreciate it so much because of the heaviness we felt while waiting for its arrival. Much like our souls and hearts before experiencing the deep and vast love and freedom of Christ. When we smell the fresh flowers, run our fingers through a rapidly flowing stream, and see the that the trees are full again, we are immersed and engulfed by the life flourishing all around us. That is what Christ's love feels like- engulfing and life flourishing.
Jesus ascends back into heaven and promises that He will return. Summer parallels the hope and freedom that is offered through that promise. If summer in the extension and fullness of Spring, then living the rest of your life in the flourishing life is Christ is like Summer. The great thing about summer with Christ, is that is doesn't end. We may be pruned and refined along the way, we may have parts of us the still need to die, but we will always have to the hope and promise of Spring and Summer. That hope carries us through the winter- but winter doesn't last.
So, today I mourn the death of Jesus. I recognize the agony and despair felt during that day 2012 years ago, and the enormous sacrifice that was made for all of creation-that was made for me. But, I don't mourn and agonize in vain, for I know that Spring is coming, that life will start again, and that my soul does not have to feel burdened for long.
Jesus HAD to die to give us the opportunity at a new life, much like the trees have to shed their fall leaves in order for the new blooms of Spring to bloom and flourish.
There must be death in order for there to be life.
The seasons are so symbolic to the journey of death to life that Jesus experienced, and can stand as a beautiful reminder to us, that as when we let the dead parts of us fall, we too, can have life- and Jesus is the only who can offer us that kind of life, since he himself is the only one who has conquered death itself.
Good Friday moves me, because without the suffering Christ endured, my life would be forever winter.
Death to life. Death to life.
