Spring Clean

I was not born and bred in Johannesburg. To our senior pastor’s dismay – I hail from the Cape! He loves Johannesburg! Actually, he raves about our city. But he will delight in the fact that I have really – and I mean it – “grown into” the City of Gold.

I do not know why – but this year the announcement of Spring is really touching me. Driving daily towards Zoo Lake, through the beautiful suburb of Park Town is absolutely stunning. The ducks at the lake have hatched their first batch of yellow children and protecting them like a good mother hen. The bottle brush is coming out in bright red, the colours of the blossoms cannot be overlooked and the trees – it seems like overnight- are covered with green, green leaves. Spring is here! And of course the first thunder, lightning and rain was awesome. Yes, our much needed cold winter with its deep white frost, dead leaves, bare trees and brown lawns will now make room for new life. Truly a Spring – clean!

I must share – Rosebank Union Church is on an exciting path with our Lord. A refreshing one! I am moved, challenged and expectant as we together as Christ’s body, re commit to become real disciples of Christ – in other words true followers of our Lord. And of course the details of how we will do this together will, I am sure, unfold as the leadership shares with us in the next few months! I don’t think it is unbiblical or theologically wrong to yearn for a spiritual spring clean (a refreshment, new growth and above all a close relationship with our God, through the Lord Jesus Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit). A short prayer in the Old Testament comes to mind – Habakkuk 3 verse 1 and 2:

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet.

“Lord, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.
Renew them in our day, in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy”

With real Johannesburg Spring Greetings – in Christ!