You’ll want to read all the way to the bottom on this one, friend! I’m giving away tickets to an inspiring movie about hope, miracles and motherhood!
You may have heard me share this before, but fifteen years ago this month I interviewed for a job in a part of Canada I’d never visited, 5,000 km or so from my home on Vancouver Island. I had no idea what I was in for, really, but after I was offered the job I knew in my spirit I was supposed to take it. I had just left the incredible organization I’d spent five years with in Latin America & Georgia (in case you’re wondering, it was Operation Mobilization), and had moved all my worldly possessions back home to Nanaimo where I was 100% sure I was going to land. But, I was wrong, and God led me to move thousands of kilometres away from home, yet again.
I’d lived on a ship and in three countries, but I was moving to a part of Canada that, as I understood it, was: 1. basically a big city, 2. snow and politicians (Sorry, Ontario. I have repented of my ignorance). It may as well have been another country, honestly, and I was a fair-weather sort of girl. Mid-July in Georgia – I was just fine. August in Mexico? Bring it on. I was not prepared AT ALL for Ontario winters. Y’all, even after fifteen years, I AM CONVINCED I AM GOING TO DIE every January & February and wonder why I’m being punished with weather that makes my skin crack and bleed.
And, every single year, I remember that Ontario has not four, but five seasons…
In this land of long winters and snow, there is this strange “Ugly Season” falling somewhere between the dead of winter and spring. It hits right about now.
The snow melts and a layer of dirt and grime seem to cover absolutely everything. For real, the street cleaners motor so often past my office windows that I would recognize the sound anywhere. The dirt is everywhere. Somehow, it even gets in our windowsills. It is EVERYWHERE – and it’s even worse now that I have a kiddo walking through it in rainboots and snowboots (depending on the day’s temperature). Last week, on a walk, we actually discovered a massive pile of it beside our neighbourhood duck pond. Ugh.
I still have no idea where all the dirt comes from – but it’s there, and it’s everywhere – and on the muddy grey landscape with a depressing lack of green signs of life, it’s flat-out ugly (my rainforest-born & raised heart is NOT impressed with this). Can you tell I’m grouchy about it? I’m working on my attitude, friends.
The good news is, normally, Ugly Season is pretty short & quickly forgotten. Just a few weeks between the snow melt of mid-March and mid-April when trees start to bud and plant shoots start to pop out of the earth. Those ever-present street cleaners suck up the dirt, like it never even happened, and we start a new season fresh. And, if you know me, you know this is when I plant pansies.
Here’s the thing: Ugly Season is a reality. We all know it. Our lives, not just our climates or ecosystems, seem to have Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall, and here and there a season of Ugly that feels like it doesn’t belong. A joy-killer. A hope-sucker. A bad joke. The unexpected dirt that just seems to appear.
And yet, there is hope.
Right beside where I park my car at work every day, there is a tiny, faithful patch of snowdrops that bursts through dirt-crusted grass every single year. For six years now, they’ve greeted me in the ugly season. They are randomly placed. Bravely blooming in the ugly. The first year, they were a total surprise. A gift. Now, I look for them every year as a sign of grace & hope. Grace that I need to remind me of the hope of Spring.
There are other beautiful things in any Ugly Season – if you choose to find them.
Last week, I comforted my weeping little girl on our drive to school. She was so sad, and when I asked her why, she told me that she was SURE that Spring and Summer would never come because there was still ice on the ground (Also part of the Ontario Spring reality. Whatever, man). Even I sometimes forget, even though I know it’s on its way, because I’ve got four decades of evidence that Spring always follows Winter, and that Summer always follows right behind, faithfully. But sometimes? We just need someone else to give us a hug, some perspective and remind us that this isn’t forever.
It’s easy to believe that, even when we see those snowdrops, we’re going to be stuck in our Ugly Season till the end of time, isn’t it? Let me tell you though, friend – and I’m preaching to myself, too – this is just a season. As my Mama would say, “this too shall pass.” I’ve got friends walking through full-on ugly season mud right now, and in the midst of it, I know it’s hard to believe that you’ll ever be able to lift your feet out of that muck. I get it. I really do. The truth is – and we must tell ourselves this – the season may be long, but it’s just a season. Great is His faithfulness. Morning by morning, new mercies – be they snowdrops or street cleaners to help us suck up our dirt – we see.
We have this hope of glory even in our ugliest, dirtiest seasons. This season, no matter how long it lasts, is short if we measure our span of life in light of eternity. Truly, we do have this hope to hang on to.
Friend, I’m holding on to hope. This ugly won’t last forever. A month from now, I’ll be snapping photos of my flowering ornamental cherry tree. It’s a short season, but a long game. The trick is to choose to see hope, wherever it sprouts in the mud and muck, and to hold it in our hearts, isn’t it? May we have tastes and visions and imaginations of future glory as we lift our eyes to see what joy is right beside us, exactly where we are.
Movie Ticket Giveaway!
Need a little hope-filled inspiration? You know I love a giveaway. WOOHOO!
I’ve been given two Admit Two passes for the release of the hugely inspirational film, BREAKTHROUGH (releasing in North American theatres starting next Friday) to share with you, Canadian friends! (Sorry, US friends – this one is just for those living north of the border.) To enter, in a comment below, tell me about something beautiful you’ve seen lately (like the snowdrops beside where I park my car!), despite this ugly season and make sure you’re subscribed to my blog!
Two winners will be chosen at noon ET on Wednesday, April 17th, 2019 and posted here.
WINNERS: Shannon S & Tracey W
Sorry my beautiful friend but the cherry blossoms have been out in full bloom here and have they ever been magnificent.
Okay, you know I am all about the cherry blossoms. 🙂 xoxoxo
I was feeling the Ugly season when I arrived home after a week away babysitting. Opened my living room curtains and saw that my tulips are about 3” out of the ground. Such joy!
Hooray for tulips! Hope and joy! xo
The Dogwood tree in my back yard just bloomed in the last week:) love it!
I miss those BC dogwoods! xo
Thank you, Ellen. What a good reminder that we have hope in every season of life.
I’m from Ontario and agree with your assessment of the in between. We are currently living on the east coast and those bright and promising buds and blooms take even longer to appear. However, I was recently blessed and surprised by a second–albeit, few–blooms on my Christmas kalanchoe. My Love also surprised me with a bouquet of lovely yellow tulips.
Yes to yellow tulips! Wonderful way to brighten up your home! xo
Although I haven’t seen a single bud (of anything!!) outdoors yet (I think Saskatchewan ugly season lasts the same as Ontario’s!), right now I hear the birds twittering away in our hedge as the sunlight pours into my bedroom. At least it’s something! 🙂
Thank you for the reminder that we all experience “ugly seasons” at times and that there is ALWAYS hope. He is there through every season. Blessings and hugs! Miss ya!
Hugs to you too – Saskatchewan has it’s own seasons, doesn’t it? 🙂 There is always hope! xo
Here in Edmonton it’s ugly season too. But the street cleaners were out this week and now there are patches of green grass growing. GREEN! It’s been a long winter here, including the coldest February in 40 years. So to celebrate national volunteer week this week, I felt compelled to buy pansies for all the volunteers I work with. They seemed over the moon at these harbingers of spring. I’m going to plant some today.
Yes! Edmonton has it’s own – I know it well! I LOVE that you shared pansies with others! They are my favourite spring flower! Enjoy them! xo
Dear Ellen , ,Thanks so much for the reminder that there is always hope. Our magnolia tree is about to burst into bloom and join the patches of daffodils on our farm.
Oh – daffodils and magnolias…those are spring personified! xo
Our sweet little granddaughter Wynter’s smiles and listening to her coo. And our puppy chasing leftover fall leaves in the back yard. (Even her muddy paw prints look cute… however annoying they are! 🐾)
What a gift your granddaughter is in this season that has had it’s own challenges for you! xo
I like to see (and hear) the birds outside. It’s a sign that spring is just around the corner!
Yes! We go out for ice cream the day we hear the first robin of spring!
Our grass is slowly greening up! My front garden is full of some lovely purple flowers that is can never remember the name of.
We received news that our one year old granddaughter is completely blind. We knew since before she was born she would have some issues from a brain defect. As we await the beauty of spring I weep for her and the darkness that she sees. She herself is love and light. A smile when she’s happy shows us that there is always hope. I pray for healing for her and I pray that God would show her His beauty through her dreams! Spring, hope, a new beginning!
Isn’t it amazing to see the grass greening up? So good! Brenda, I’m agreeing with your prayer – and that God would give her vision beyond what we can imagine, and that far exceeds what we can see. xo
The robins are a beautiful sign of spring to me! And the joy on my kids faces when they can go biking again on dry sidewalks!
Yes! We got the bike out of storage today!
I have two young kiddos so confused by this weather. Elijah said the same thing as your beautiful girl about Summer NEVER coming. We have the beginning of beautiful crocuses and daffodils making an appearance through the soil. It is always such a welcome sight to see them pop through the ground
Ha! How did he feel when he looked out this morning? 🙂 xo
A great reminder. I have seen parents continue to push through with hope for a better future for their kids. Even in the midst of those that would tell them there is no hope and the future is bleak. It is a truly beautiful thing to see people press on and walk in faith.
All the hearts for this one. Push on, brave ones. xo
We had a beautiful sunny day today, which makes us feel like spring is finally here. Just closing your eyes & feeling the warmth of the sun brightens up the day.