The Hope of Spring | Chasing the Light

what is grief, if not love persevering?

Dear Friends,

It’s hard to believe that it’s already March! My favorite season has always been autumn––that sense of contemplative slowing down, the chilly anticipation of approaching Christmas. While I still love the atmosphere of fall, spring is gradually becoming my favorite season. Misty mornings and budding life inexplicably open my heart.

In the wake of the past year, so many of us have experienced tremendous loss, sacrifices we never asked for. Whether we’ve lost loved ones or opportunities to live life abundantly, we all have something to grieve.

A quote from the show WandaVision reverberates in my mind:

What is grief, if not love persevering?

And this concept extends beyond grief over a loved one passing away. We experience the ache of a broken heart. A vibrant friendship gone sour. A sense of not being where we wish to be.

In a season that feels like an endless winter, we need reminders that

The story is not over.

Life-giving hope is real.

Spring is coming.

Reading

For a long time, I didn’t have a well-developed category intersecting my faith with the difficulties of life. Heartache and disappointment seemed the most prevalent markers of the last five years––pain often drowning out the hope of God’s promises.

Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy gave me the language to approach my God with confidence, even in brokenness. The author interweaves Scripture and personal narrative in this deeply restorative work.

Listening

Jon Foreman’s newest album navigates a broad range of human experiences with wisdom and candor.

There's an ocean beyond the sea
That holds elixir for all who grieve
Only the shipwrecked could ever find it
By the ocean beyond the sea

The Switchfoot frontman addresses the complexity of life with hopeful realism. One lyric that continues to strike me is: “The best me is unafraid.”

Favorite tracks: “Jesus, I Have My Doubts,” “The Ocean Beyond the Sea,” “Side by Side”

Watching

I was enthralled by In & Of Itself. Its singular blend of storytelling, magic show, and visual art builds into a moving meditation on human identity.

The New York Times says of Delgaudio’s show, that “[its] magic offers a means of exploring ideas just as complex, and of provoking emotions just as powerful, as those encountered in any other art form.” Though it has some scattered mature language, the overall themes portrayed here are breathtaking and worth reflecting on.

Other recent favorites: The Chosen, Ted Lasso, WandaVision

Writing

I recently wrote an article on imposter syndrome and finding my way home for Fathom Magazine. You can read the full piece here.

A friend once told me that though I may not feel like it, goodness and mercy are forever chasing me, blood-bought markers of divine presence and eternal companionship. When I feel like a fraud, God invites me into the astonishing reality of his unrivaled care.

What have you been reading, watching, listening to? Feel free to leave a comment and engage with these ideas. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

With hope,

–Carissa Early