Much too early! Daffodils in January? Yet my heart leapt with joy when I saw my first daffs of the year. Their cheery yellow boldness trumpets good tidings: “winter will not last forever.”
Too often we align our thoughts with the negative realism of “Game of Thrones” where the Stark family rallying cry is “Winter is Coming.” The drama works itself out against a background of snow, ice and trouble. Desperate deeds throw civilisation into chaos and pain. It makes for good drama, but there is a lot of negative and depressing posturing and scheming in the search for wealth and power. I don’t want to live in that kind of world.
Today’s daffodil reminded me that we also live within a dramatic storyline, but there is freely given hope. Bulbs planted on the edge of the road have braved the cold and wet, and the daffs nodded wisely at me as I passed by. “Someone has to be first.”
First to poke its delicate head out of the mud and grass. Such bravery! Quite chatty, these daffodils- “Cheer up! Spring is knocking on the door of the year.”
Our story is wrapped into God’s Great Story: revealing Light and Truth, Jesus is the First. First to bring heaven to Earth; first to defeat Death, the grave, and the Devil’s schemes. Like the first daffodil of the year, the Risen Christ shines boldly in a hostile environment. And, like the daffodils, the first will be followed by swathes of colour and shapes that love Life.
Bulbs buried in the dirt are resurrected into splendid new life. The first daff says “Follow Me!” and the others follow gladly.
Wherever we face challenges to our faith, our hope, or our life-choices, remember we have have been implanted with Life itself. The Resurrection life of Jesus is a gift to us from God. What we do with our new life is our gift to God.
Our example, our testimony, our lifestyle will be seen and appreciated. When we emerge into our community, we will be a bright beacon of hope and Love: little breathing daffodils pointing upwards to Christ. We may be alone at the moment- but God is with us, and Jesus WILL build His Church, the Eternal Kingdom of God. We won’t be alone for long. Someone has to be first. If our courage leads us to stand out, who knows how many will be cheered and challenged to join the throng?
Someone has to be first.
Luke 2:30-32
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
The Reflectionary 