Isaiah 29:17-19
17 In just a very short time
Lebanon will turn into an orchard,
and the orchard will be considered a forest.
18 At that time the deaf will be able to hear words read from a scroll,
and the eyes of the blind will be able to see through deep darkness.
19 The downtrodden will again rejoice in the Lord;
the poor among humankind will take delight in the Holy One of Israel.
Life in the Bud
A writer in my critique group has a delightful character named Nicholas in her children’s book. He’s a bug who loves to spin on his shell and drives everyone crazy with his jumping about. When his sister is just about fed up, he jumps up and yells, “Ta da!”
This time of year, with the early dark and the late dawn, life can feel heavy and slow. We’re often pinned indoors. Many people work long hours so they may never see the sun or get outside while it’s above the horizon. It can be discouraging.
I love to examine the shrubs in Winter. From inside they don’t look like much, but when you get up close you can see life swelling along the branches. Camellias especially have fat, swollen buds of the most vibrant green (with pink, white and red blossoms furled inside). If not blossoms, you can see the small pods on branches that will unfold into a haze of leaves once the days lengthen: Spring’s “Ta Da!” The life is in there, ready for the right conditions, protected. In the mean time, the plants will rest, store energy, and deepen their root systems so they can sustain the display when it’s time.
The Jews of Palestine must have been very discouraged as they waited in the long winter of silence before the unfurling of God’s blossom: Jesus. But there were small signs – a word, a gift, a revelation or saving action given by God along the way. The buds were swelling on the branch for those who watched closely.
Let us wait in hope, attentive. It’s dark outside, but the stage is set. Soon, there will be angels, fanfare, a birth! Heaven’s unfurling, God’s “Ta Da!”
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