Where the Redbuds Bloom

 

Monday, March 13, 2023

I am the spring crocus blooming on the Sharon Plain, the lily of the valley.            Song of Solomon 2:1

North Carolina has enough pollen-producing blooms in the spring to make an allergist smile like a billionaire.  My car rests peacefully in our garage, but whenever it is parked outdoors for more than 10 minutes, anywhere in our home state, it develops the look of summer squash…bright yellow.

While driving home on Highway 109 last Thursday I was struck by the beauty of how the Eastern Redbud trees were proudly announcing the beginning of God’s mysterious cycle of changing seasons.  Redbuds are usually first bloomers where we live, but the record-busting temperatures last week may have leaked the idea of an early Spring!  Even with spring is here as old news, I just had to stop and take a picture; beautiful blooming trees never get old.

I am certain Solomon felt that way about his bride…her beauty kept him entranced.  Her clever mind was as attractive as her appearance.  She was the complete package, mind, body, and soul.

Perhaps you’ve wondered why a love sonnet from a poet made its way into Holy Scripture.  It may help to consider the Scriptures that connect our Lord Jesus Christ with the lily of Sharon’s valley.  There is nothing about the character and actions of Jesus that could ever be described as anything but lovely.  Solomon may have been writing about his bride’s beauty, but, as prophets often do…his message had a double meaning; his message spoke of the loveliness of Messiah.

My bride and I are “transplants”.  In our late twenties we moved 1,196 miles from Long Island to Florida.  We’ve been moving ever since.  Our current stay in North Carolina (23 years) is the longest by far, and we’re content to breathe NC pollen until we get fresher air in Heaven.  Island life in New York during the 1950’s was like anywhere we have traveled…children play, adults do the heavy-lifting of life and family, and God’s loveliness was all around.  As children are prone, we did not appreciate that when we were young, nearly as much as we do these days. 

On a rare visit to our roots years ago to gather with family when my aunt died, we both noticed how the striking fall foliage of our youthful home was so like the mountains where we now live.  The memories of God’s beautiful handiwork followed with us wherever we’ve trod, and that glory of God’s creation was here to greet us when we arrived.  Life in a moving caravan is full of experiences, both wonderfully-excellent, and painfully harsh; one thing is certain:  God is always there!  And when he shows you His loving presence, you’ll never want to leave.

I can never escape from your Spirit!  I can never get away from your presence!  If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.  Psalm 139:7-8

For You Today 

Take time to smell the roses and gaze at the redbuds today (even if the pollen threatens); you wont regret having a glimpse of His glory. 

Apostle Paul has today’s last word on this:

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Philippians 4:8

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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There are about 2,500 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions library.  To dig deeper explore some of these:  Foxes and Grapes  or  Hidden Brides and Little Foxes       

Title Image: Russell Brownworth, own work  Images without citation are in public domain.

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©