March 20, 2005

Renewal and resurrection

Spring is a time when we're reminded of new life. Flowers bloom, leaves sprout, and animals are born reminding us of rebirth. Next Sunday will be Resurrection Sunday and we will be reminded of Christ's victory over death as we sing glorious hymns that we all too often sing only once a year.

Over at Mountain Musings, Deb posts an entry about The Miracle of Life. This weekend the Girotti family was reminded of that miracle as Tom (the Dad) suffered chest pains. (He seems to be OK, Deb reports.) Then later in the day, the family watched as a sheep gave birth to two lambs.

Evidently it's that time of year in the Shenandoah Valley. Sure, I can look out the window and see the snow-covered Blue Ridge mountains. But down in the valley, farms are bustling with new life.

Yesterday we went out to my boss's farm to see two new lambs that were born Tuesday night. They are Baby Doll sheep, a small breed with compressed snouts. They truly look like toys--or baby dolls. These two lambs are tiny but active, scampering around on their spindly legs as they scamper after their mobile food supply.

We also got to really experience farm life up close, helping to grain the cattle and force a first-time mother cow to feed her day-old calf. It was fun, and I dare say we learned quite a bit. Two years ago we were NYC residents, and now we find ourselves doing this?

Throughout the visit at the farm, I was reminded of new life myself, but many of my thoughts were of the Creator that gives that life. And with Resurrection Sunday just around the corner, it brings to mind the third stanza of "Christ, the Lord, is Risen Today." The words of that stanza are so rich, and I'm glad that it's the stanza that I think of with that hymn.

Lives again our glorious king, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Dying once, He all doth save: Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Posted by JRC at March 20, 2005 08:51 PM | TrackBack