cherry blossoms

just shortly after easter the cherry blossoms bloomed white and beaming all around my town and seoul. greenery was all around. spring is here.

and it is fitting that it began after easter. new life. new days. new chances.

but the interesting thing about cherry blossoms is that they are transient. about a week after they bloom, they whither. and its pretty as the petals fall all around, but then its gone.

“surely, we are grass and just as surely we will fade. but the word of the LORD stands forever.”

its amazing how creation emits life. spring blossoms, reminding us that new life is always hopeful. Jesus wins. new life wins. but our mortal lives are transient, like the cherry blossoms. and like the cherry blossoms we will fade too. our lives are but a mist. but the word of the LORD, that is what lasts.

and like the blossoms, there are times of bloom and times of withering. times when joy is overflowing and rich with wisdom. and times when shadow and sorrow toss and separate the petals.

as I read through the prophets these days, I cringe at the utter anguish some of them feel and even bring it before God in question. but there is always at least one sign or glimmer of hope- found in the character and covenant of YHWH. "Jesus you remain, Jesus you will stay."

again, there it is. knowing who He is, and therefore who we are compels action, even when the petals fall. even the when the shadows toss.

if you are interested in some new and refreshing worship, listen to Mike Crawford and the Secret Siblings. there is no way you’ll regret it.

Verse of ponder: “When Jesus saw her [Mary] weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled…he cried out with a loud voice ‘Lazarus, come out.’” john 11:33 and 43

Music: “Isaiah 40” and “Center my Heart” by Mike Crawford and the Secret Siblings

Weekly Ventures: we had our last week at the school for our mid day walk to prepare for Jeju. the cherry blossoms were in bloom and the students were loving it...so were the teachers.

so while that fun was going on i also wrote a paper for my old testament class on Habakkuk. not my best work but good enough.

on thursday i got coffee...well we both got hot chocolate and it was sooo good....with seth martin, a rather unique friend from back home who happens to live in the same area outside of seoul as i do. providence. it is good.

the weekend was dreadful weather wise. but i'm glad because i got to spend time with my dear friend shauna and the lovely dye family, who i cozily relaxed with while the cold windy rain took over our city. during that time we watched star wars, the sound of music, and i finished my third journal since being in korea.

i love all my students. but some of them are just...special. take my 9th and 10th grade boys. the 9th grade all posed, like they're all that and the 10th grade, today, lounge outside reading their essays for writing class. what can i say? i'm not the best teacher, but we do have a good time.

today was one of the first days in a while i felt rejuvenated and becoming more at peace. its been a rocky month, almost robotic like in a sense, and extremely low at others. but i like going near water...where i can tangibly see the signs of life and healing. and remember who i am. creation tells our story well. creation, fall, redemption, the hope of restoration...its everywhere. and i'm glad it sings with us, groans with us, and waits with us, and i'm hopeful that just as spring always comes and the blossoms bloom, so the petals in my soul will birth new once again too, but even when they fall, and even in the shadows now, He still remains, His word doesn't change and I am still His.