Walking through beautiful
Bute Park in Cardiff, Chris was
inspired by a lone daffodil

The signs of fresh hope

“ I believe this is a spiritual springtime... all over the world, God’s new life is springing forth" - Chris Cartwright

On a late February morning a couple of years ago I was walking through Bute Park, the extraordinarily beautiful landscape of more than 130 acres which fringes Cardiff Castle in the heart of the city centre.

The frost had barely melted and the air was crisp and dry. Walking along the path I looked to my left in the direction of the castle and the imposing outline of the Principality Stadium, home of Welsh rugby. As I did my eyes were drawn to a splendid oak tree and beside it one lone daffodil in a vast lawn of green.

I stopped to take in the moment and to admire what seemed to me to be the boldness, the audacity of this beautiful but fragile flower. Dwarfed by acres of parkland, a spectacular castle and an iconic stadium, the daffodil simply stole the show.

Of course, the Welsh love daffodils, the national flower of Wales. In a few weeks all of Wales would be filled with daffodils, yet this lone visitor was the first to announce the changing season. It seemed to be saying spring is coming, change is in the air, warmer days and fresh horizons will soon be upon us.

I could barely contain the joy and hope that one daffodil had stirred in my heart. I did what we all do nowadays: I took a picture on my phone.

Every season has its own characteristic beauty but spring has long captivated poets, writers and artists alike. It is the season of new beginnings.

In Isaiah 43 the Lord speaks through the prophet, “Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth…” He goes on to describe the glorious transformation that his presence and power will bring: “a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

I love words. As a noun, spring names the season. But even while it does that it can’t help but suggest so much more. It’s also a verb as in ‘to spring’. And in primary school verbs are ‘doing words’. They’re all about action. Lambs springing into the field, a child springing out of bed in the morning and water springing from the mountain. There’s life in the word, there’s movement and progression.

God says to his people, forget the former things, I’m about to do a new thing. Look, it is springing forth even before your eyes. Look for the signs of new life, fresh hope and evidence of the presence and promise of God.

I believe this is a spiritual springtime. All over the world, and all over our communities, God’s new life is springing forth.

There’s still so much of winter, but God is calling us to move forward with eyes and hearts wide open to see and embrace his works and wonders in the familiar landscapes of our own lives and experiences, in our families and neighbourhoods, our churches and our communities.

This article first appeared in the March 2023 edition of Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.

Enjoy this article? Don't forget to share