Lent Day 20: Signs

Lent Day 20: Signs

This week I saw my first robins. I couldn’t help but smile. Ever since I was a little kid I have looked forward to seeing the first robins because they were the signal that Spring was fast approaching. I never got too excited about the ground hog seeing his shadow or not, but spying one of those orange-chested creatures gets my heart to pumping!

There are all kinds of “first signs” around us. We are typically aware of: the first signs of a cold; the first signs that Christmas is around the corner; the first signs of aging; the first signs that it’s time for that baby to be born. Some first signs are good and exciting: first steps, first words, and first days of school. While others are more foreboding: when the engine light first comes on, first signs of a heart attack, and signs of the demise of a relationship.

So what do we do with all these signs? What signs do we heed while choosing to ignore others? Do we continue to push our luck and tempt fate? When we don’t act or try to put off the inevitable are we more responsible when things fall apart? It seems so odd to me that we fuss when we aren’t given enough warning , but then we choose to not pay attention to the warnings we’re given.

When I thought about this I was reminded of a winter a few years back. We had been hit by several heavy snow storms and missed by others. The local TV station’s chief meteorologist was trying to explain the whole process. He had taken some heat for his recent reports and especially for what seemed like “misreporting.” Finally, he threw his hands up and admitted, “We have no idea what’s coming.” All they could do is read the signs and hope for the best.

We’re all a bit like the weatherman: all we can do is pay attention to the signs and do our best. Ignoring the signs around us will not protect us from what is coming. Putting off typically does not mend or heal anything. The robins are going to return and Spring is going to come. So whatcha gonna do about it?