The season of long shadows has arrived, when stunning beauty erupts in brilliant and nearly superfluous showmanship. It's almost as if the Master Artist wanted to outdo the other seasons, to pull out all stops at the last and least expected moment.
I love the beauty of fall, but I hate the lingering sense of saying goodbye. I want to push against the shortening days, to hold back the passage of time for just a little longer.
And in those moments of sadness, of sensing the imminent return of winter's breath, I stop to marvel at autumn's poignant bouquets of beauty, heavy and dripping with hope. They are gifts of forced reminder, calling me to remember the promise far beyond the farewell, of the grace found in one season giving birth to the next.
There is a promise in the pattern, and my soul wants to drink it in.
Hope comes packed in many colors.
The following song was written three years ago this fall, in honor of a member of our congregation who had unexpectedly passed away. In whatever ways our hearts encounter the Season of Long Shadows, may we likewise be able to recognize the patterned beauty of a hope that comes packed in many colors.
~Lisa
~Lisa
SEE YOU IN THE SPRING
@ 2007, All rights reserved.
Words by Lisa Venkatrathnam
Music by Lisa Venkatrathnam and Kristin Wilson
Performed by the Elim Praise Team (Kristin Wilson, lead vocals)
Leaves fall and birds take flight
Autumn gives way to night
Laughter turns into tears
How we wish you were still here
Winter came much too fast
A lifetime of love has passed
But even in fiercest storm
The seeds of hope are born
We do not know the reason
For every changing season
But one day we will dance
One day we will sing
Our tears will turn to gladness
When we see you in the spring
We’ll see you in the spring
Like plants beneath the snow
Our hope in Christ still grows
Winter will turn to day
No more sorrow, no more pain
We do not know the reason
For every changing season
But one day we will dance
One day we will sing
Our tears will turn to gladness
When we see you in the spring
We’ll see you in the spring
The things we do not know
We lay before God’s throne
Our sadness will soon be passed
When spring is here at last
We do not know the reason
For every changing season
But one day we will dance
One day we will sing
Our tears will turn to gladness
When we see you in the spring
When we see you in the spring
We will see you in the spring
Music by Lisa Venkatrathnam and Kristin Wilson
Performed by the Elim Praise Team (Kristin Wilson, lead vocals)
Leaves fall and birds take flight
Autumn gives way to night
Laughter turns into tears
How we wish you were still here
Winter came much too fast
A lifetime of love has passed
But even in fiercest storm
The seeds of hope are born
We do not know the reason
For every changing season
But one day we will dance
One day we will sing
Our tears will turn to gladness
When we see you in the spring
We’ll see you in the spring
Like plants beneath the snow
Our hope in Christ still grows
Winter will turn to day
No more sorrow, no more pain
We do not know the reason
For every changing season
But one day we will dance
One day we will sing
Our tears will turn to gladness
When we see you in the spring
We’ll see you in the spring
The things we do not know
We lay before God’s throne
Our sadness will soon be passed
When spring is here at last
We do not know the reason
For every changing season
But one day we will dance
One day we will sing
Our tears will turn to gladness
When we see you in the spring
When we see you in the spring
We will see you in the spring