Mighty March!

Most of you probably remember the song, "Lead On O King Eternal".  The next line reads "the day of March has come."  March is one of my favorite months.  Our daffodils and crocuses have already begun to push their way up through the mulch.  The birds have begun to return and sing their songs.  The cold weather is finally beginning to break, and our neighbor’s tree is already showing small buds!  Hopefully, the snow is mostly over, and the golf courses will begin to open in the next week or two.  And the grass is still brown, so I don't have to get the mower out of the shed yet!  The first month of spring brings, in at least some ways, a certain newness to everything.  It was warm enough outside yesterday that while we were out in the yard for a bit, our neighbor took time to come over to visit for a while- we had a lot of "catching up" to do!

With all the changes underway, perhaps March is a good time to take a new look at our spiritual lives.  It can be easy to allow the bleakness of winter to affect our faith walk as well.  Scientists say there really is such a thing as "seasonal affective disorder", or SAD, a feeling of sluggishness and depression that starts in November and lasts for a couple of months.  The days are shorter, the temperatures are colder, we tend not to get out as much, and we often fail to get the sunshine that provides the vitamin "D" that is so important to our health.

I believe that winter can sometimes cause us to have a "spiritual affective disorder."  Perhaps you've missed Bible study several times over the winter because you don't like to drive after dark.  Perhaps you missed church a few times because you don't like to get out in the snow and cold.  Good news!  On March 8th, we spring ahead, gaining an hour of sunlight in the evenings (In the winter, when it gets dark at 4:30, it really gives me the blahs!).  Don't forget to change your clocks- need everyone to be at church to hear Loren's final "trial sermon" and then the congregation will vote to decide if he is selected to serve as the new pastor of the church.  So the newness continues- more sun, more time to get out and enjoy, more activities in the church and community, and perhaps (I'm hoping) even a new direction for the church!  I am reminded of the old song we sang in VBS and youth group when I was a kid- "Rise and Shine and Give God the Glory."  It's time to get excited and March forward.  Spend more time with Jesus and let him truly lead us on as our eternal king!

Have a great March- and be blessed!

Ray