New Life

In California, USA, mid-February is the beginning of blossom season in the Central Valley, the area between the Sierra Nevada mountains and the coastal foothills, almost exactly in the centre of the state. For about a month between mid-February and mid-March, cherry, apricot, peach, almond, and plum trees burst out into bouquets of pink or white blossoms. This blossoming is soon followed in the vineyards by "bud burst": tiny growths that produce green leaves that in turn form tiny self-pollinating flowers, each of which can turn into a single grape (called a berry, for some strange reason).

The Blossom Trail, started in 1988, maps out 62 miles of roads that wind between the multitude of orchards and vineyards that still — despite all the new construction — blanket the east side of the valley. Many have been owned by the same families for over 100 years.

I was visiting my sister during blossom season, so we decided to drive the Blossom Trail one Saturday afternoon. We meandered through mile after mile of fruit trees and vineyards, all springing forth with new life after months of lying dormant in preparation for spring.

As we witnessed all this bursting into new life, I thought how it demonstrated our new lives when we accept Jesus as our Saviour and die to our old life. We are now empowered by the Holy Spirit to blossom and be set free from the power of sin, and to think about the things of heaven.

2 Corinthians 5:14b-15,17 – Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (NLT)

Romans 6:13b – Give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. (NLT)

Have you found this new life? If not, click on this link to find out how to get it. If you have found it, how can you blossom so others will also find it?

Prayer: Lord, I want to use my whole body as an instrument to do what is right for Your glory. Help me to be a trail for others to follow so they, too, can find this new life. Amen.