Grace and Green Grass

It has indeed been a long, cold, lonely winter. The season itself has been beastly and dispiriting; with heavy snow, ice, wind, and cold gripping us in its solemn gray clutches and squeezing our spiritual, moral, and physical strength out through whatever flesh remained exposed - without suitable wraps.

The times have been abominable; much of the world has been inflamed by riots and torment and yet the heat of that fury has not brought warmth but only pain. Struggle has visited more households than any time in recent memory, and instead of merely stopping by for coffee it has taken up long-term residence in the very foundation of so many homes. With Struggle has come his sidekick Strife and he is no better of a guest but instead a villain in his own right.

We are waiting desperately for spring. The snow that was beautifully ambient at Christmas has become a life-sucking lamprey eel in March. Christmas is gone away; not being here to keep the snow on its best behavior. Instead, man now sees fury, depression, and struggle in this oppressive winter that has been a wrecker of homes and an attacker of spirit. But, from this oppression we can know that one day they we will be free.

Yes, one day we will be free. There is a place of grace and green grass and we must hold onto the hope and freedom it has in store for us. The demonic and abominable will not suck life from us there, but instead life will be eternal and secure. We will partake of fresh-flowing water as we hear on the cadence of the rivulets a new song and not a sad and blue song. No, my friend, we will not be shivering and frustrated. No, my friend, we will not be hungry. No, my friend, we will not be in poverty or without a home.

Please, don't lose hope! There is a place of grace and green grass and with it colors not imagined or envisioned by the human eye or mind. If you are sad and heartbroken today, it is only for today. The winter has beaten us and we are bruised and we have likewise lost too much blood. We have been injured and grieved but it is only a season and ultimately we are healed.

I have seen hopelessness in its brutal ugliness. I have heard its sinister chortling and smelled its foul halitosis. I have known poverty and the aching fear and loss that are its specialties. In that, am not here to solicit your pity...

No, my friends, I am here to remind you that spring is around the corner. Truly, when it is all said and done and my race has been run - you will see that I was only here to give you hope.