My Empty Nest: March 2008

I take it all back

Remember all my talk of spring finally, finally arriving?

I take it all back...

Even the poor little crocuses are shivering!

Sigh.

Perhaps if we all just assume

that winter is here to stay

then spring might finally

slip in the back door.

Perhaps.

Spring at last! ... or not...

Oh, Joy! We have Spring at last. Spring at long and weary last!

or not

Come on, snow, didn't you see the calendar? It's time to melt!

Shine well, sun, shine strong.

You have an important job to do here.

There's a geriatric kitty

who's been cooped up

for far too many icy months
and needs to get OUT

into the wide world again.

So get busy, sun, and get this snow melted!

In the meantime,

we'll savor any hint of spring we can find,

wherever we can find it,

no matter how miniscule it may be!

The dead don't come back to life -- with one exception

I just read this question and its answer and simply have to share it:

By DR. BILLY GRAHAM

DEAR DR. GRAHAM: Do you think they'll ever find Jesus' grave with His bones in it? I respect my Christian friends who say this can't happen because Jesus came back from the dead, but I'm studying to be a doctor, and I know that once someone is dead, nothing is going to bring them back to life. -- Z.J.

DEAR Z.J.: It might surprise you to discover that one of the Gospels that tells us about the resurrection of Jesus from the dead was written by Luke -- who was a medical doctor.

If anyone knew from personal experience that dead people didn't come back to life, it was Luke. And yet he was absolutely convinced the words of Peter he later recorded were true: "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact" (Acts 2:32). In fact, the Bible says hundreds saw Jesus after His resurrection, including more than 500 at one time (see 1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Years later, those witnesses were still bearing testimony to the reality of Jesus' resurrection.

Not only that, but they were willing to die for their belief. People don't willingly die for what they know is a lie -- but they were, because they knew beyond doubt that God had raised Jesus from the dead. They knew too that His resurrection proved death and Satan had been conquered, and eternal life is available to all who put their faith and trust in Christ.

This Easter I invite you to take a new path in life -- Christ's path. He alone gives us hope -- hope for God's presence now, and hope for life beyond the grave. No, they'll never find Jesus' bones, because God raised Him from the dead, and because of that "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul" (Hebrews 6:19).

Contact the Rev. Billy Graham c/o Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201, phone 877-247-2426, or see the Web site billygraham.org.

Birds, birds, birds

While we're on the bird theme, here are photos of some of the many, many varieties of birds who live in the Lake Yojoba area of Honduras.

Consider all the green in these photos as a nod to St. Patrick's Day--a very special holiday to me.

One of our favorites of their birds is this yellow-tailed black bird. The yellow is very obvious when they're flying!

They also have ordinary blackbirds and lots of really colorful varieties of birds including parrots, a flock of whom flew rapidly down the canal and past the house every morning and evening. Unlike the parrots, this handsome fellow obligingly stayed put for the few moments it took me to grab a camera.

Right off the back deck of the home where we stayed during our time there was a palm tree, complete with nest...and cheery little occupant!

Who, me?

Who, me? Do what?

Why, I am perfectly innocent!

It was that other gull.

The one who just flew away.

Couldn't have been me!

Green, Lush, Warm, Beautiful! Honduras!

Our last trip to Honduras wasn't all work; we took a couple of afternoons off to play tourist.

The memory of our delightful visit to Panacam Falls is made even more precious because it is snowing today. Again!

I'll just have to close my eyes and imagine that I'm back in Honduras, walking through lush, green forests and across a swinging bridge to splash and play under the falls.

Now Paging Spring. Paging Spring.

Now paging Spring.
Come in, Spring.
You are needed immediately.
Please report to New England immediately.
Code Blue. Code Blue.
Code Blue in New England.
Overdose of Winter.
Now paging Spring to New England.
STAT!

Too much snow.

Too much ice.

Ice must go.

It's not nice!

Watch closely, little icicles.
You are feeling warm...and sleepy...and drippy.

Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.

Time to go bye-bye little icicles.

Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.

Pretty please?

Perhaps. Just perhaps.

There is hope at last!

Honduras is a beautiful country!

Honduras seems especially beautiful in February when New England is cold and snowy and Honduras is lush, green and warm! These beautiful mountains were part of our lovely view from the back deck of the house where we stayed.

We walked to and from campus every day on this dirt/stone road.