Vivid life.

I always love watching a storm roll in. The clouds puff up to froth and the air has a definite zing.

There’s a storm rolling in now. But what’s catching my attention tonight are the leaves.

It feels like yesterday that the trees were completely bare sticks stabbing into the sky. (Oh, wait... it was.) I remember staring at snow-covered trees in April and wondering if they would ever be green again.

But here they are, bursting with whirlwinds of color.

They give me courage, these leaves. Vivid life emerging from the drabness with unexpected punctuality and grace.

They give me courage to look at the drabness in my own life with new eyes. Slowly, so much more slowly than I want, I see leaves appearing. And with unexpected punctuality they reveal the rich, deep colors of grace.

The leaves give me hope, too. The drabness I see is not wasted. It is only preparation. All will be redeemed.

When? 

Who can say? But we wait for it with patience. For He who began this work of vivid life in us will be faithful to turn all our drab places into bursting color.