“Now the Green Blade Rises”
To me nothing is exhilarating as when birth happens. It means new life, hope, dreams beginning, potential for change. At this time of the year we are surrounded by nature “re-birthing” itself. Birds, animals of all kinds, flowers, and farmer’s fields all coming alive. Warmer weather embracing seeds and bringing them to life. A favorite Easter hymn of mine is Now the Green Blade Rises hymn # 379 in our hymnal:\
“Now the green blade rises from the buried grain, wheat that in dark earth many days has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been; Love has come again like wheat arising green.
In the grave they laid him, love by hatred slain, thinking that he would never wake again,
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen; Love has come again like wheat arising green.
Forth he came at Easter like the risen grain, he that for three days in the grave had lain;
Raised from the dead my living Lord is seen; Love has come again like wheat arising green.
When our hearts are wintry, grieving or in pain, your touch can call us back to life again,
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been; Love comes again like wheat arising green.”
Our Easter faith “sings” us to life again and again as we absorb and reemerge from “wintry” periods of our lives. We all have them, some acute lasting for a short time, others chronic with us for what seems like forever.
If today you require a breaking forth from a covering burden or pain may God gift you with his grace and strength. If today is a “thanksgiving day” may you sing with the freedom of nature that what had once been buried has now come to life.
Prayer: Lord, let your love come to us today “like wheat arising green.” Amen.
Pastor Jerry
