Lord: it is time. The huge summer has gone by.
Now overlap the sundials with your shadows,
And on the meadows let the wind go free.
Command the fruits to swell on tree and vine;
Grant them a few more warm transparent days,
Urge them on to fulfillment then, and press
The final sweetness into the heavy wine.
Rainer Maria Rilke (trans. by Stephen Mitchell)
Out of the deadness of Winter comes the fresh new life of Spring, the lovely green growth of Summer and always the mature fruits of Autumn. Spring always turns to Summer and Summer to Autumn, it just always does! One naturally follows the other. And with our spiritual lives, one thing super-naturally follows the other!
The grapes that have grown all spring and summer on the vine will surely ripen and produce their juice. In the same way, the life-giving new wine of the Spirit will surely invigorate us and flow out to all around! That's the super-natural outcome of the Life within us, which is Christ Himself!
He has put His life in us - won't that Life bear fruit? Yes, it surely will. Won't our lives reach the fulfillment of the purposes He has lovingly planned for us? Yes, they surely will. Won't He work all together for good for us? Yes, He surely will. Won't we one day appear with Him in glory? Yes, we surely will!
With love,
