Signs and Symbols

I can't help but notice that with all the technology around us, that sometimes in our daily lives we may miss important "signs". A sign represents something—an idea, an experience, a feeling, an object. Paying attention to "signs" used to be a part of our daily lives and gave rise to some interesting expressions: "Red sky at morning Sailors take warning Red Sky at night Sailors Delight." Years later scienctists actually confirmed with lots of studies, facts and figures that there was indeed some wisdom in the expression.



Farmers used to watch for signs that would tell them if it was going to be a good time to harvest or not. I remember staying with my aunt one summer and my uncle saying the trees were turning early this year so he was going to bring in the crop. We had a hard frost a few days later and his crop was safe. Expressions like: it's a sign of the time that's a sure sign of hope, all expressions relating back to the



After suffering a long, cold relentless winter we have all been hoping for spring. In Michigan you cannot predict spring by the calendar-we look for signs. One would think snow melting would be a sign-but around this time of year it can be 50 degrees one day and 10 below the next. For us the first sign of spring it a robin! I remember my mother and I watching carefully for the first robin as the true sign of spring.



I had to go into work today to grade some of my students websites and Timmy decided to tag along. We were there from 12:00-6:00 and by the time I slumped out the door I was not paying attention to anything other than my car at the far end of an empty parking lot. Then a small hand reached up and squeezed mine,"Look Mom, I see two robins.....It's a sign Spring is here!"



I stopped right there and watched those robins. They were pulling worms out of the ground. Suddenly the sky seemed a little bluer, the remaining mounds of snow shrunk into the background and I took a deep breath. The first breath of spring!

The promise of new life...

the season of rebirth.

I wonder how many other signs of things to come I may have missed because I have been too busy to notice much? I know January is usually the time for resolutions-but for me today is the day. I am going to learn a lesson from my son. There is great pleasure in seeing signs and experiencing a sense of wonder. Are these signs God's way of letting us know he is still there? Is he perhaps there and we simply have not recognized the signs of His presence? Spring is here...time to watch for signs!