The first hum of a distant lawnmower has always been one of my favorite sounds. It means that spring is here and summer’s on its way — a happy sign for barefooted kids who, like me when I was young, can’t wait to live summer outside. Since I grew up in north Texas where thunder is more common than snow, our grass needs cutting earlier than most.

Parents in the neighborhood probably weren’t as excited to hear the first lawnmower sputter into action, since it signaled another early return of lawn-keeping. But even they felt a touch of hope as brown branches grew buds, which turned into blossoms, which turned into leafy abundance (usually within the space of a week in Texas, where spring is short and summer is long).

Spring, literally and figuratively, is new life.

People liken spring to a clean slate, light after a period of darkness, renewed vigor after a season of lethargy. Spring, literally and figuratively, is new life.

Christians rightly see the new life brought by spring and think of the new life inside us, bought by Christ. The beauty of it is poetically summarized in one of our favorite verses: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

But we also tend to neglect our new life’s growth all too soon.

Pruning Season

The first mow of the season produces a hopeful sight. All the leftover brown of winter and unruly overgrowth of recent torrents is trimmed away to reveal something new and beautiful and fresh.

That’s the thing about spring. It’s wonderful when things start growing. But then they don’t stop.

Soon, however, the lawn must be mowed again. That’s the thing about spring. It’s wonderful when things start growing. But then they don’t stop. The subsequent months are filled with pruning, trimming and weeding as rain continues to fall.

It’s the same with us. Before, we were dead because of our sin. Our souls were like winter, when nothing grows. When we gave ourselves to Christ, he gave us new life. Growth began.

But just because our life is new doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Not everything that grows will be good. There will be some weeds, brambles and unfruitful branches. The good thing is that Christ won’t abandon us to more of winter’s death. The new life is still there. We just need pruning, and lots. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, since Jesus tells us in John: 

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:1-2

Summer Drought

As spring goes on, mowing, pruning and trimming become sweatier tasks. Spring melts into summer, and we melt along with it.

Especially in Texas. When it gets too hot (and it won’t take long), we head indoors, crank the AC and grab a cold glass of sweet tea. Lawnmowers and trimmers sit idly in the shed. Even barefooted kids formerly trapped by winter’s death flee from summer’s sun.

Christians do the same. We revel in our new life for a little while, but when pruning time comes and it gets too hot, we duck inside. The only problem is that once we go in, we miss out on the rain. Growing stops. Drought comes. And as every Texan knows, droughts can be fierce. 

For a long time recently, I was in a drought. Though it was broken up with rain showers here and there, I never endured the pruning long enough to grow. I went inside spiritually to avoid the heat and missed rain. And my heart, like the ground, turned hard.

Rain and Revival

Like a good Texan, I learned long ago to pray for rain. Thankfully, God answers prayer.

Like a good Texan, I learned long ago to pray for rain. I also learned that God answers prayer. With rain and revival, he refreshes our lawns and our spirits, preparing the soil for new growth. It’s an unmatched feeling, when you see it outside and when it happens inside you. 

This year, like many past, north Texas got an early spring. The official season has just begun, but I heard the first lawnmower weeks ago. Lord willing, the rain will keep coming and I’ll hear lawnmowers all summer long.

Keeping the lawns nice won’t be easy. It will get hot. New weeds and unfruitful branches will bound into view just as others fall to the blade.

But just as spring comes around every year, new life comes around every day for those who trust in Christ. Thanks be to God.