Learning from the Exodus, Israel came to know God as their savior. When she shifted from a semi-nomadic to a settled agricultural lifestyle, the cycle of sowing and harvesting, early rains, and summer ripening allowed her to see God as a giver of life and a creator. The experience was clear and immediate; no modern farming techniques dulled the sense of wonder. For Israel, it was God alone who decorated the flowers. Perhaps we should try to recapture this feeling of God working through winter to bring new life and colors. This same power raised Christ’s body and will continue to strengthen us, working through the winter of our lives.
This abundance of material things prompts us to consider another kind of abundance that God assured his friends about. The Church also experiences spring rains, summer harvests, and songs of joy. That should remind us that God is active through all seasons and weather. Suppose most Christians and Church communities no longer dare to ask God for the weather needed for a good harvest. In that case, that is not because our faith is now more spiritual, but because we, unfortunately, feel more comfortable with a powerless God.