As I write this, my wife is on vacation laying next to a pool in a warmer climate. I am staring out at a cold snow covered landscape. This is her annual pilgrimage to a warmer place during the heart of Winter. Winter is beautiful in many ways but for most of us it gets old. As a parent you have to make sure your kids have layers of clothes on. The sun isn’t out as long. It feels like there is less time and opportunity to spend time with people. Throw the flu into the mix and it’s outright depressing. Not only this, but for some people the darkness this time of year causes them to have seasonal depression. I’ve had friends who have had to relocate from more northerly locations because of the seasonal depression they experience. Why? Because there’s not enough light.
God made this world with natural beauty and seasons. I can’t help but reflect on how the seasons of the year mirror the story of redemption. Winter in many ways parallels the chapter of the story of redemption commonly called the Fall (not like autumn but separation from God because of sin). There is less light, less warmth, more isolation. Our bodies rebel against this cold. It’s like we weren’t designed for these frigid climates. In the same way, we were not designed to be separated from God. We were designed to be in the light, to use biblical language. We were designed for relationship with God.
But God doesn’t let Winter last forever. He brings us the hope of Spring and Summer. He offers us resurrection hope and new life. Even in the midst of winter, we can be people who remember that we’ve been set free from death and been brought to life because of Jesus.