I remember that night, and the way I held my dad and prayed. In my prayer, I thought about my own experience at age 20, when I had almost died. I wondered if dad was feeling the same peace I had felt. I knew I had gotten a small “sneak peek” of an eventual promise, if I would only stay true to God’s purpose.

There is a time and a season for everything, and a purpose under heaven. Just like the birdsong I heard last week—that was a sneak-peek of the promise of spring, in the middle of winter.

A glimpse of spring is like a glimpse of eternal life; a reminder that we are always in transition.