A Promise of Spring
March. That crazy month in the mountains of Tennessee where you can experience all four seasons in 24 hours! Already this March we have seen snow flurries and highs in the 70s. Warm sunny Spring-like days and cold rainy Fall-like days. The one constant throughout is a promise of Spring where the hardiest plants welcome the warm and weather the cold. Their buds and blooms provide a glimpse of the Spring that is yet to be, a Spring filled with wildflowers, warm sunny days, and the greening of the hills. Spring in Appalachia is a wonderful time as it heralds the return of growth and sunshine.
Life can be like that. Even in the darkest of times, we find promises of Spring. Like Winter, depression and anxiety threaten to drive us indoors and away from the world. In the gloominess of dark times, we find little indicators that life will get better. Sometimes it is as simple as the joy of a warm cup of coffee. Sometimes it is the concern of a friend who has noticed our absence. Sometimes it is the embrace of a loved one who is willing to stand by us and protect us until we are able to face the world again. For me, it is often a timely verse from the Word of God letting me know that God is there, that God cares, and that His shoulders are big enough for me to cry on, His chest is strong enough for me to beat on, and His heart is great enough to allow me to cry and beat until I have nothing left. It is at this point that He begins to gently restore me, and the warmth of His love begins to shine through the darkness, like a promise of Spring.
God uses all kinds of ways to help us find our promise of Spring. Peace Mountain Ranch exists to create an environment where hurting Veterans can experience that promise. PMR comes alongside the Veteran and joins in their journey, pointing out the buds and the small blooms in their life that indicates their Spring is on its way. A Spring filled with new hope, a path toward healing, a path toward wholeness. These little promises of Spring might be in the patient understanding of a horse, the flicker of a fireside chat, the silent presence of another as we hike a trail, or the silliness of a steer running through the fields. These promises might be in a conversation that provides a new perspective, but most of all, they are found in the peace of the Holy Spirit that seems to pervade the grounds giving the “peace” that is Peace Mountain Ranch.
Are you a Veteran who needs to find a promise of Spring? Reach out to us. Are you someone who wants to help Veterans? PMR wouldn’t exist without the love and support of people like you. We simply ask that you pray for us and consider supporting us financially so that we can continue to help Veterans experiencing a new Spring. To give please visit our donation page.
