On a recent children’s ministry zoom call, the discussion turned to ‘signs of Spring’- in other words, areas where we are seeing God’s Spirit at work, bringing life and growth.
I recently attended a children’s ministry block course in Auckland, on the topic of faith formation in children. We stayed at the Friary, a Franciscan monastery in Hillsborough. One morning I took a walk through the garden and enjoyed discovering some ‘signs of Spring’ and slowing down to watch some goldfish swim in their garden pond.
The course covered a range of topics- biblical & theological perspectives on faith development in children, the irreplaceable and significant role of family, intergenerational community, our context in Aotearoa, a theology of grandparenting and more! Dotted throughout the presentations from a range of speakers there were also little pockets of quiet- time to reflect and ‘let things settle’, time to contemplate.
Now that I’m back in Christchurch I’m drawn back to these photos that I took in the monastery garden. Sometimes the ‘signs of Spring’ are very visible in our lives, but at other times we see the problems and difficulties more than the growth. As I’ve looked at these flowers again, I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to see how God is working in and beyond the ‘growing pains’, within the challenges.
I wonder where you encounter ‘signs of Spring’ right now?
Where do you sense the Spirit at work- visibly or under the surface?