Spring brings with it the promise of new life. That which was dead in the ground suddenly bursts fourth in fragrance and colour and warms the hearts of all those who look on. This is nature’s way of mirroring the Resurrection and the empty tomb. But it is also a reminder to us of the promise that is given to us of new life which begins with us coming to faith and will be complete in our resurrection. And yet there is something for each one of us to do now in terms of activating that promise within us now. Paul says, ‘Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 3:13-14). Paul is not passive in terms of activating the power of the resurrection in his life. He takes deliberately action to lay aside his past and to ‘strain’ towards the goal. God has not called us to be apathetic Christians. We are called to take hold of our destiny and press on to-wards the goal that God has given to each of us. This Spring, lay aside all of the encumbrances of the past – all that weighs you down and stops your progress in the faith – and be determined to ‘take hold of that for which Christ has taken hold’ of you. God Bless. Richard.