Contrast… finding hope in the grey days.

I can’t remember green.  (Ok. So that is a bit melodramatic..) However, in February, in Michigan, (where I live) it could happen.  Color is nearly absent in February.

Of course,  there are enormous variations of black, grey and white, a few splashes of brown, but that’s about it.  The snow is grey and dirty.  It looks tired and worn out.   There is a grey, salty residue (we salt our walks to melt the snow) on the hardwood floor… (As a side note- I think my family avoids stepping on the doormat, instead, they opt to wipe their feet on the hardwood.  We’ll be having a little “meeting” about that.  Also- I should probably, mop: ) What isn’t covered in snow, is dappled in mud.  It may be a technicolor world… but Michigan, is currently, shades of black and white.

This morning, I poured an extra large, (think: cereal bowl with a handle)  cup of coffee, with french vanilla, creamer.  I wrapped my hands around it to warm them, took a deep breath and then poured out my heart to God about the whole, grey mess.  I suppose some of my out-pouring (aka: whining) was prompted by the weather,  some by my hormones, and some due to a few minor circumstances that are outside of my control.   Nothing tragic.. just low key saddness, colored grey.

Out of the corner of my eye- I saw a flash of red.  Not just “brownish” pretending to be red… but true vivid, monochrome- busting,  RED. Brilliant, moving, living color, in my backyard.  A cardinal, had perched himself in the cat-tails.  COLOR.  What my eyes were craving, popped into view. A gift.

I ran for my camera.  I snapped pic after pic, trying to capture the beautiful contrast between black and white and brown and RED.  Every picture fell short.  However- etched in my mind, is that tiny bird. Eventually, I went back to my (now cold, what mom ever drinks a whole cup of hot coffee?)  coffee.  Inspired by the shot of red….I pulled my Bible off the end table and opened it’s (yes, brown) cover.  This is what I read:

Song of Solomon 2:10-13

“My lover spoke and said to me,
  “Arise, my darling,
  my beautiful one, and come with me.

See! The winter is past;
  the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth;
  the season of singing has come,
  the cooing of doves
  is heard in our land.

The fig tree forms its early fruit;
  the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
  Arise, come, my darling;
  my beautiful one, come with me.”

This morning,  in the middle of a cold grey day,  God brought color in a cardinal.  This morning- in a cold grey heart……God brought hope in a verse about Spring.   Had it been warm and sunny- the messages would have been lost in the caucophony of color and warmth.  Instead- the contrast brought them into clear and vivid, view.

I wonder…how many times the same cardinal has been in my yard in the fall, spring or summer- only to go un-noticed? I wonder how many times I;ve read the same scripture missing it’s thread of hope?

Today- regardless of what you find outside of your window… I pray that you’ll find His hope- in it’s contrast.

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