The Blossoming of the Cherry Trees!

For some reason, it seemed like this year it took forever for the cherry trees in our yard to blossom. From the beginning of April on, I kept on looking and checking for the pink blossoms to arrive, but they seemed so long in coming. Eventually, however, they did blossom, and our yard became surrounded by big pink balls hanging on the trees that encircle it. It’s quite a sight to behold! 

Now however, a few weeks later, the blossoms are falling, and the ground has become a carpet of pink. It’s as well beautiful to look at, but admittedly a bit sad. After all, the fallen blossoms signal another passage of time, another passing of a season. It will be another full year until the cherry trees blossom again. A lot will take place between this year’s blossoming and next year’s. It makes me wonder, what will take place in between those two points in time. I don’t know…nor do you. Surely, the time between the blossoming of the cherry trees is quite uncertain. 

There is One who knows, however. There is One who knows the beginning from the end and all that will happen in between. Listen to what he says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8 – NIV) And “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13 – NIV) 

The Bible reminds us that God is from before all of time and will be there after time has come to an end. Thus, he sees the passing of time from a perspective that we cannot. It’s no wonder the psalmist wrote, “But I trust in you, LORD;  I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands….” (Psalm 31:14-15 – NIV) Who better to trust with the times of our lives than the One who is above all of time and thus knows all of time? 

Between last year’s blossoming of the cherry trees and this year’s blossoming, a lot has taken place. Some of it was very good (e.g., the birth of my first grandson, the wedding of my daughter). And some of it was quite difficult (e.g., living through a pandemic and having major back surgery). There were times when I was caught off guard. Yet, none of it was a surprise to “the Alpha and Omega!”  

The same will be true of the time between this year’s blossoming and next year’s. We may face some surprises. We may be caught off guard. The unexpected, both good and bad, may take place. But let’s be reminded that our God knows the beginning from the end, for he is “the Beginning and the End.” Let’s declare with the psalmist, “My times are in your hands.”  

Have a great day. 

Pastor Tim Harris