Something is Budding

Have you ever heard of the bible study or small group practice in which each participant goes around and tells a thorn, a rose, and a bud? The thorn is something that has not been going well. The rose is something that is going well. The bud is something that is just starting; something hopeful; something that awaits blossoming.

Spring is the perfect time to focus on our “buds.” I am not sure about all of the other states, but here in Michigan, buds are everywhere. The trees are budding their leaves. The flowers and plants are budding. It is beautiful and exciting to watch everything grow green and colorful.

Something else is budding. Our relationship with Jesus. We are still in the springtime celebration of the Easter season. Jesus’ body has blossomed at His resurrection. There is even a book in the Bible, the Song of Songs, that describes the beauty of springtime.

My beloved speaks and says to me: ‘Arise, my love, my dove, my fair one, and come away; for behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away (Song of Songs 2:10-13).

Who is “my beloved?” In the time of Solomon, who is attributed to writing the Song of Songs, “beloved,” was probably an endearment for a lover. It is still an endearment for a lover. Yet, Jesus takes “beloved” a step further when God says at Jesus’ baptism, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).  And at the transfiguration, God says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him” Matthew (17:5). Jesus is God’s beloved. By taking on flesh, God also made us beloved. Created in His image, the Lord is well pleased with us. Beyond our sins and our failings, we are still God’s beloved, and He is still well-pleased with us. He is our Father.

God does not just call us “beloved.” In the Song of Songs, He calls us His “love, my dove, my fair one.” How endearing of our Lord, to be called His love! And His dove. God sees us as a pure white dove that is also a sign of the Holy Spirit. And He calls us His “fair one.” In many other bible translations, we are His “beautiful one.” How can we resist going to God as He calls us with such endearments?

Now, He asks us to come away because the winter is past and the rain is gone. We have heard His endearments, but, “Come away,” where? Perhaps it is coming away from a cold and cracking prayer life. It may be the sadness of the clouds of winter that God wants to pull us from. It may be the constant chill of sin.

The winter is gone and the rain is as well. The time for flowers to appear on the earth has begun. Where there was once snow, there is now green grass. Where there were clouds, there is now the sun. Where there was sin, God spreads forth His mercy like a sweet fragrance. Where there was pain, God fills us with the healing that His creation offers us.

The fig trees and the vines are blossoming. The fragrance they give beckons us into springtime. Hope. Beauty. New beginnings.

I have several buds in my life. I am getting used to a new job. I am waiting for my novel to come into print. I continue to discern my vocation to consecrated virginity. I am being drawn closer to my relationship with God the Father. My twin sister is pregnant with her second child. And, I am gardening—not just metaphorically—legit gardening.

In my garden, which I made into a sort of shrine, with statues of Jesus and Mary, I am able to arise and “come away” with my Beloved. I find while gardening, that spring is so short! The buds quickly turn to a blooming rose with stems of thorns. Roses and thorns are okay and a part of life, but let us not miss the buds from which they come.

What are your buds? Is it the end of the school year and the start of summer vacation? Is it a new job or an internship? A new child? A new friend? Even a loved one passing from this life to eternal life? A fun project you are working on? A marriage proposal?

We who are beloved, loved, a dove, and a fair one! We are being called into closer intimacy with Christ. Now is the time. For all of our failures and regrets and stumbles, we are still in the Easter season. We are still in the season of new beginnings. Take advantage of this opportunity, beloved. Fully enjoy springtime and pay attention to all of the buds in your life.