As I sit here in early dawn, the birds ourside are singing away, announcing that sping is not too far away. For those of you who live where there are seasons, you know the joy of that first crocus, that first bud, that first bloom. Spring tells us the earth is awakening from its winter sleep.
We owned an apple orchard when I was growing up. I learned early on how important the dormant season is if you hope to get a good harvest. Apples require so many dormant days if they are going to produce fruit.
We have dormant periods in our spiritual life as well, days when our enthusiasm wanes, our inspiration lessens, and perhaps we second guess where we are on our journey. Perhaps this is the true meaning of Lent, a reminder that all of life cannot be blossoms and buds. We must go through a dormant period as well, and that such times reflect not some kind of moral failure but is the normal rhythm of any life.
So take heart. Dormant periods are good for our souls. We can take these times to surrender to the process. We can learn to let go, to trust, to believe without feeling or sensing. For ultimately, we will find spring again. And our fruit will bear the witness to our patience in dormancy.
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