Titus 3:12  “When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.”

************

As I looked out my dining room windows, I noticed the nakedness of a once prolific green leaved tree.  My eyes immediately perused the entire landscaped scenery as my thoughts conceded to understand that the season of autumn or fall is passing as it readies itself for the winter season.  I suddenly realized how much I had appreciated the shadow of the full foliage of leaves, peaking through the blinds of my windows during every unclouded twilight.   Although everyone may have a different emotional feeling about seasons, and ascribed to the ones they like best, we all are forced into the experience the full scope of seasons.  Ready or not they are coming!  

Winter is a time of hibernation, by way of interpersonal evaluations and intrapersonal reflections.  It is a spiritual and physical time of resting on what has been accomplished during the past seasons (spring, summer and fall) provided you have been proactive and accomplished a foundational bedspring to rest upon.  Though we are more apt to be inside by the fireplace and enjoying our family and friends during the season holidays, which include Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, National Fruitcake Day and a plethora of other commemorations to embrace the “melting pot” of America’s cultural and ethnics inhabitants.  Winter is also symbolic to death and stagnation.  The wise will embrace the death of whatever cannot withstand the winter seasons, because it will only bring contamination to the soon approaching Spring season which ushers in birth, newness, freshness, enlightenment and renewed strength.

How prophetic is the fact,  that outside my bedroom window, covering the entire span of the picturesque window is an evergreen tree.  This tree speaks to me in a language that only those who have learned to master the seasons of their life.  It tells me that no matter what the seasons are or how intense their elements may be expressed that Jesus the “Tree of Life”, is in my midst.   My resolve, I have determined here to winter.  I have only to rest in its presence and trust God for a favorable outcome.

If you have not noticed, let me be the first to advise you, we are personally and collectively entering into and winter season.  The blessed news is that the evergreen tree is outside the window of our resting place and we have no need to worry for God’s has promised a favorable outcome.  

Apostle Ezreaonne Jackson