Time seems to move so swiftly for me at the beginning of the year. I can barely believe that February is almost finished. However, Lent, like some kind of time within time, moves more slowly for some reason. It has a different rhythm than Advent does for me and provides a metronome to pace me.

For this second week of Lent, my friend Violet gave me a delicate painting of Hellebore flowers as our conversation starter. I remember the first time I noticed these flowers blooming in an unassuming sort of way close to the ground, so early in spring it seemed impossible. I drew near, examined the blooms which faced downward like fat little bells. I had to pursue them, carefully lift the bells to appreciate the bloom.

Some of the things we hope for in our hearts and take to God in prayer seem impossible too, don’t they? We have to pursue them, bring them to God again and again. The pursuit, the attention teaches us to hope and believe for God’s answer – that changes us perhaps even more than the answer that follows.

Promises

Through winter’s crust
what rises first,
before even daffodils
can speak of Easter’s joy?

Spring calls softly
from shaded spaces
in blooms marbled
with earth colours,
pealing silent promises
that school us to believe
and long for resurrection.

© 2021 Laurel Archer all right’s reserved

Title: Lenten Rose
Artist: Violet Nesdoly
Watercolour paints, pen, painted on 140 lb. cold press watercolour paper, 6×9 inches.