The sky is blue, the sun is bright, the snow is in small mounds, the air smells like SPRING! But wait! It’s only the last week of March. It is too early here in the north of Minnesota to be spring just yet.. I grew up in the southwestern corner of Minnesota, where sometimes for a late Easter it really was spring. There would be trees and flowers blooming, and we could actually wear our Easter dress without a coat hiding it. The Twin Cities could even experience similar weather at times at Easter. But I’ve had to realize that Duluth and north doesn’t even have a nice April. We had blooming fruit trees and lilacs many years by May first. We could walk down the middle of Minnehaha Parkway under blooming trees and through blooming bushes. I must admit that I really do miss this earlier spring.

I have been thinking how our season of Lent is like the season moving into spring here in northern Minnesota. 

We are in the midst of the weeks of Lent, moving toward the celebration of Easter. Music and art are important in my walk-through Lent. I begin to listen to the Messiah in Advent and finish at Easter, having also gone to concerts of some parts or the whole of the Messiah during that time. There are many great masterpieces of music composed for the glory of God! Maler’s Resurrection Symphony is another or works by Bach. The local library is a good place to check out the music and research the composers. There are concerts in the area that maybe you could attend as a family.

Did you know visual art has been part of the Christian church from it’s very beginning? The earliest Christians lined the catacombs with paintings of the Old Testament figures, martyrs, and apostles. Some of the paintings were crude, others were made by skillful artists. All revealed a great commitment to witness to the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. These paintings reflected a FAITH that stood strong in the face of persecution. They were portraits of HOPE.

Down through the ages, art has been used to inspire and encourage millions of Christians. Magnificent cathedrals have been built to the glory of God. Beautiful paintings have retold over and over the story of God’s love. Our faith can be expressed in many ways.

We don’t have to be musicians, composers, artists, architects, potters; we can be cooks, mechanics, teachers and use our talents to the glory of God. Our faith can be expressed in many ways - in pictures, in music, in words, in prayers, and in loving deeds.

We still have time to use our talents during Lent to the glory of God and the love of others. Amen.

Pastor Marion