Del Bieber

“From the very first day we were there, taking it all in—we heard it with our own ears,

saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared

right before our eyes; we saw it happen …The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.” (1 John 1:1-2 The Message)

In March along the coast of South Jersey the lap of warm air rolling over frozen ponds and frosty soil unfolds a humid blanket.  The friendly low clouds of early spring are soft and quiet. And I like it. In a month that is often known for its madness, it is good to find an element of calm. It slows us down. It forces us into a lower gear and a more cautious pace. It bathes us in moist molecules of serenity. And it tickles our souls with the promise of robins, butterflies, and roses.

I awoke this morning to find the Pine Barrens engulfed in fog. So I took a walk into the mysterious mist of March with the hope of becoming lost. I was not disappointed. It is good to be lost when you know where you are. It is good to be lost when you know you are within a few hundred yards of home. It is good to be lost when you are not lost at all! So I walked in the fog and listened to the silence of renewal. “The infinite Life of God himself” took shape before me. I worshipped.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the renewal that takes place in March. Thank you for the transition between winter and spring. Thank you for the promise that robins and butterflies will fly, and roses will bloom. Thank you for the yellow daffodils and the budding trees. Thank you for bringing life to my soul and peace to my heart. Thank you for reminding me that the morning fog will lift and the sun will shine again. Every day. Amen.

You have just read Friday Evenings for March 16, 2007. This week’s guest writer is Del Bieber, pastor of the Tom’s River Church of the Nazarene, Tom’s River, New Jersey. To subscribe to this free publication, send your name to Dr. Tom Barnard, barnard22@cox.net. Be sure to ask to receive both the “Friday Evenings” and “Tuesday Mornings” devotionals.