Spring, Lent, and Enduring Hope

Spring, Lent, and Enduring Hope

Today marks the first day of meteorological spring.

The days are a little longer and a little brighter. The harshness of winter begins to give way to something softer.

For me, spring only feels like it has begun when the daffodils emerge along the banks of the city walls around York. Their yellow heads are more than just a seasonal marker; they are a reminder of home, of family.

Spring is a visible reminder that life is a journey—always changing, always moving. It speaks of hope after a long, hard, dark winter. There are moments when the darkness seems endless. And yet, every year, without fail, spring comes.

And so does hope.

Why do I have hope? Not because of anything I have done. Not because I have somehow earned it or achieved it. I have hope because my future is certain because of the One who gives hope and salvation.

I am not worthy. I am a failure. I mess up, time and time again. And yet, even in my brokenness, even in my failure, God continues to pour out His grace. He continues to offer hope. That’s what grace is—undeserved, unearned, yet given freely.

As spring unfolds, so does Lent. A season of reflection, of repentance, of realigning our hearts.

The message of spring, the message of Lent, the message of Christ—it is all the same.

Winter does not last forever.

Darkness does not win.

Death is not the end.

Hope endures.

And so, I am going to embrace this season of spring. The light. The new life. The hope. The salvation. The restoration.

Because hope is not found in me or in the season of spring, but in Him.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My last blog (for now…!)

Image
My last blog (for now…!) There are times when words alone can’t fully capture the story of our lives—the mountain tops and the valley bottoms. Often songs come into my head that help me better articulate what I’m experiencing, and this past weekend I’ve been singing these words; Jesus, What a Saviour You Are “ You are my strength When all my strength has ended You are my hope When all my hope is gone You are my joy When my world is full of sorrow You’re the peace in my tomorrow For I know that You’ll be there… ” These words summarise my testimony. The past 18-months have been fairly traumatic for me, filled with more change, pain, and growth than I ever could have imagined. I write my thoughts and reflections down because I find it helpful—and I hope that, in some small way, sharing my experiences might help others too. This is my last blog (for a while…!), as taking a break from writing is for me a symbolic act of closing one chapter and starting another. Recent months have been marke...
Read more

Rethinking Homelessness Services: A Call for Change in The Salvation Army

Rethinking Homelessness Services: A Call for Change in The Salvation Army For over a hundred years, The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom and Ireland has provided vital homelessness services. In more recent history, these services have often been funded through contracts with Local Authorities. These contracts usually dictate how services operate, setting financial limits, service models, and key performance indicators (KPIs). While they ensure some level of support and accommodation is available, they also present significant challenges—challenges that make me question whether this is still the right model to be used. The Problem with Contracted Services At first glance, contracts appear to offer stability and reduce risk. They provide funding, structure, and a framework for homelessness service provision. However, they also force providers—charities, faith groups, and housing associations—into a competitive business model that simply doesn’t work for a people-focused sector. Inste...
Read more

Releasing All People into Flourishing Mission and Ministry

Releasing All People into Flourishing Mission and Ministry I today had opportunity to have coffee with the one and only Andrew Vertigan. It was good to share with Andrew, especially as he co-leads my home church and was pivotal in my own call to ministry.  Afterwards, my mind turned to the following questions:  • What happens when leaders don’t fit into a box? • What happens when leaders don’t flourish on their own? • What happens when leaders have their skills, talents, and preferences assumed? These are vital questions for The Salvation Army today. As we seek to be a movement led by the Spirit, sent into the world to proclaim the good news of Jesus, we must consider how we release people into ministry and mission in ways that allow them to truly flourish. Some leaders flourish best in structured, clearly defined roles, while others, like myself, thrive in the messiness of life. I flourish best in messy, intergenerational settings where life is lived out in supportive, loving...
Read more