I’ve been meeting many people who are experiencing winter burnout (or freeze out). Even the south has had a winter to remember, featuring killer storms that have just kept coming.

Now it’s time to look past wintry blasts to sweet spring, the season of new life; the gentle time of the year, the season of love, Good Friday and Easter.

Flowers and colorful blossoms are about to break forth in all their splendor, speaking of God’s love of beauty and his provision of these for us all. But what if this breathtaking display that bursts forth every year during the delightful season called spring went unappreciated because we lacked the ability to take it in? What if our reception of these wonders was only in black and white?

Not a chance!

The Creator’s plan is complete, providing both natural beauty and the human capacity to enjoy and appreciate it. We can also learn from it.

Jesus urged those who were worried about financial problems to consider the beauty given to lilies in spite of their lack of labor (Matthew 6:26-27), teaching them to trust rather than tremble during tough times.

Then there is Solomon’s enduring poetic description of spring: “For, lo, the winter is past, the rain (or snow) is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of the birds is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in the land” (Song of Solomon 2;11-12).

The first day of spring is always special to me. I start the countdown at the beginning of each New Year and have generally reported the number of days until spring to my congregations each week until it arrived. I once received a letter from a family of former members asking how many days remained until spring.

Spring declares death can only win for a season and that life is always waiting in the wings to take the stage, so I keep trying to spread the good news.

“There are only a few more days until spring,” I tell people I meet. And you should see the looks I get.

“That’s only on the calendar,” some say, wondering how I can be so upbeat about the arrival of spring before the weather is spring like.

My reply is simple: when we enjoy the anticipation of spring, we’ll feel the balmy breezes and breathe in the aroma of flowers before they bloom.

Expectation enhances experience.

Dwight L. Moody, the 19th century’s most famous evangelist said, “After Dec. 31, winter’s back is broken.” At the end of every year, this man of faith saw spring hurrying on its way to arrive on time: beautiful, life announcing, spring.

A moving line of composer John W. Peterson’s song, “I Believe in Miracles,” must have been inspired by his delight in the Designer’s spring extravaganza:

“I’ve seen the lily push its way up through the stubborn sod;

I believe in miracles for I believe in God.”

I do too. How about you?

Roger Campbell is an author, broadcaster and columnist who was a pastor for 22 years. He can be reached at rcministry@ameritech.net.