“There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul.” These words from the beautiful and well-known African American Spiritual paint a lovely image of forgiveness. The word balm refers to an ointment or salve to smooth dry skin or heal a wound. In the dead of winter, many of us rely on various balms to heal our dry skin.
In the dead of winter, plant life and vegetation take on a dry, even dead appearance. Life itself even seems to slow down and drag. Hurting others or being hurt by others leaves us spiritually withered and dry. When we sin against God and mankind, we manifest our own spiritual dead-of-winter season, so to speak.
Symbolically, the dead of winter represents the dark and foreboding days leading up to the death of Christ. The Resurrection of Christ symbolically and majestically transforms our dead-like spirit into a life of newness and renewal.
Then comes the promise of spring. I love the season of spring. In spring, renewal happens all over the place. Flowers bloom, trees bud, birds sing. Our whole demeanor is even uplifted by all the new creation. Spring happens with us personally when we choose to forgive or receive forgiveness.
I have been trying out a new “balm” lately. I have thought of people in my past who hurt me for whatever reason. I then give thanks to God for those individuals as well as the hurtful experience, because through them I was able to draw closer in my relationship with Christ and experience a remarkable peace. It also strengthened my ability to forgive and seek forgiveness.
Spring is on the horizon, but don’t wait for spring to begin to live a life of renewal. Begin now and the hope of Easter will be “bright shining as the sun.”
Robert Fasol, Organist and Choir Master
