Friday Five: Signs of Hope, Signs of Spring

Sally from RevGals writes:

It has been a difficult week here in Dowham Market, and yet in the sadness there have been signs of real hope, young people, often criticised have shown us how caring and amazing they are. It has also been a strange week; it snowed for almost the first time this winter, and yet many of the spring bulbs are blooming, and the trees are blossoming!

I believe that if we look carefully we can see signs of hope all around us…. as for signs of spring… well you tell me….

Bluebells in my garden, before the snow!

What have you seen/ heard this week that was a:

1. Sign of hope?

The voice of God at the beach this week.

2. An unexpected word of light in a dark place?

Being encouraged towards setting a date for my ordination by some fellow seminarians, both men and women, and this is particularly encouraging because there are male students who are far from that persuasion. I have greatly enjoyed my “small group” for reflection and processing this week. (Jennifer, Crystal, Allison, Durante and Ken — you rock!)

3. A sign of spring?

A tree FULL of robins, chirping and singing up a storm! And beds of daffodils in full bloom. (The signs of the season are a few weeks ahead here in Teh Hole-ee Lande of Seminary.)

4. Challenging/ surprising?

I had to write out a “Spiritual Formation Map” as part of a Leadership Seminar/Class. Events that I had not remembered for a long time came to the surface in a time of focused prayer and contemplation. It was quite a remarkable process.

5. Share a hope for the coming week/month/year….

I think I am closer to “naming the date” that I finalize my ordination. It’s a different process than many take because I will be ordained through my church (not a governing body). But it is, nonetheless, an important step in walking into the Call God has on my life.

Bonus play… a piece of music/ poem guaranteed to cheer you?
It has to be Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day”