Cherry blossoms

Over the last week it has been cherry blossom season here in Hokkaido. Being the most northerly and therefore the coldest of the main Japanese islands, we are always the last to enjoy the pinks and whites at this time of year. It's always so good here to see signs of life and colour after the long winter. People like to go to view the cherry blossoms (there is a word for that - hanami) and others will have a picnic under the trees. Our house benefits from having two large cherry blossom trees just outside our windows - great to waken up in the morning and look out on them. Sadly the blossom does not last. After a week or so, it's all gone. The cherry blossom is richly symbolic in Japanese culture. One such would be a reminder of mortality. The life of the cherry blossom is short. And as we look at the cherry blossoms, it's a reminder to us that while many people around us are appreciating the beauty of the blossom, so few know the one who created the beauty of these trees. Life is short. Our time here is short. But we bear a message that points to life and not death. As we were thinking in our church service this afternoon, our task is to bear witness to that message in the hope that many in Japan can find the way to life.