This morning becomes a wonderful time to consider the sunshine.   After all……It Is February 2nd (Groundhog Day), a day of great importance, an auspicious day.On this wonderful day, one founded by the Pennsylvania Dutch and expanded by the Germans to include a furry rodent (the hedgehog), a day when tradition would have the clergy distributing candles for the cold winter, we are reminded of redemption.
On this special day (set aside and favored each year) we are reminded that the groundhog (our version of the German hedgehog) will scurry out of his den, and on a clear day, see his shadow reflected upon the ground.  In fear of his shadow, he will scurry back into his den to hibernate for six more weeks (the PA Dutch superstition).Yet, if the day is cloudy, and if our furry rodent friend does not see his shadow, then he will not scurry away in fear, but he will stay outside his den, where he will play as he awaits the arrival of spring. (According to the calendar, spring will arrive in six weeks despite our furry friend’s findings).
Groundhog Day…..A special day in Nancy’s life (because of a wonderful movie attached to this favorable day).Yes, a great movie, one where we see how life can become an entrapment, one where we continue to relive the same actions day after day, over and over and over. The replaying these same actions lead to the same results, and unless drastic measures are taken, we will arise each day, walk the same path, and in fear or tiredness, return back home, only to relive the same day……tomorrow………over and over and over.
Drastic revelations cause wonderful changes, one that (in the movie) he begins to see a better, more auspicious (favorable) ending to his day, one where he retires to bed and discovers in the next morning that he does not arise to a February 2nd calendar (again), but instead to a brand new day, the NEXT day of February 3rd.
Silly as this analogy may be, today, we can be reminded that in our lives we are given two choices—–Live, searching for truth.ORLive, denying the existence of truth.We can see our shadow of who we really are (a sinner) reflected by the Son of God (by Jesus Christ) and live in a type of fear and denial hoping for a time when we are afforded another opportunity to see the Truth of the Son of God. ORWe can choose to NOT see our sin condition, and we can choose to stay outside, playing, oblivious of the TRUTH found in the Son of God, refusing to even look for the SON because we choose to live in denial of our eventual destination.
Either way, the end is the same—death comes to all.Either way, the destination we choose because of the existence of the SON changes everything. Either way, we can wake up to the same day (over and over) OR we can wake up to a brand New Day, and walk in God’s path for our time we are alive.
The Groundhog Day——Such importance that it has its own day upon the calendar.So important that forecasters wearing their black coats, tails, and black top hats make a big deal predicting the future weather.
Auspicious (English)…..FOR SURE. Gunstig or Veelbelovend (Dutch)…..FOR SURE.
Yes, even though this writing may be silly today, there is such an important context to consider.CHOICE.Each person is given the CHOICE to see God. OR

CHOICE.The CHOICE to NOT see God.The CHOICE IS EACH PERSON’S INDIVIDUALLY to MAKE. 
In closing, the Bible reveals the truth of this choice we each much choose. The Apostle Paul writes in Colossians 1: 13-17—“For He (GOD) rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (JESUS CHRIST), in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  He (JESUS) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
We cannot have anything in life good—friendships, marriages, education, careers, internal peace…..anything that is apart from the goodness of God because ALL things exist because of God and ALL things exist for Him (including you and me).Let us today CHOOSE WISELY while there is still time.