Signs of Spring

 I went outside this morning to put sunflower seeds in our bird feeder, and I noticed several things. The huge evergreen tree far out in our back yard is full of grackles, chuckling, whistling, and rattling happily—and loudly.  The little white baby’s breath flowers are blooming beside the driveway and around the edge of our patio. The hot pinks and reds of the japonica (pictured above) and the lavender red bud trees are bursting out. The lilac bush and the rose of Sharon have tiny leaves.

Hooray, spring is coming!! Every year, just about the time we believe winter is a permanent condition, it goes away. Spring is a time of hope, a time when my heart, accustomed to gray cold, peers out the window and sees joyful green.

It is the season of Lent, the 40-day period leading up to Easter. I believe God chose the perfect timing for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the ultimate symbol of hope and joy. But then, his timing is always perfect. Many people sacrifice something during Lent, to help their minds and spirits focus on Christ. This year, my sacrifice is to spend extra time in prayer, study, and writing about what it all means for my life.

Because of his death and resurrection, we have the hope of eternal life.  And also, because of his death and resurrection, we don’t to have to live in winter dreariness. Children usually accept his love much more readily than adults. We adults have had plenty of years to develop ideas about how undeserving we are and how impossible it is that God might love us. One of my uncles said, “God doesn’t like me. I’m too mean.” The thing is, we don’t have to deserve it; his love is a gift.

When we realize this and accept his unconditional love and forgiveness, we can live in the hope, joy, and peace of spring. We can learn to forgive other people who may have hurt us—and to forgive ourselves. Our hearts can rise out of heavy winter snowstorms and live in the light, warm springtime. Because of God’s love, we have this possibility of hope. We can throw open the doors and windows and let in the sweet scent of lilacs.

Note:

The picture of the japonica was borrowed from a gallery by Martin LaBar at www.flickr.com  

Visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology site at http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/common_grackle/sounds to hear grackles’ sounds—especially the sound track called “calls of flock.” Many people think they are pests, but they are so joyful, I love them.

New Year's Resolutions--Thoughts

How am I doing with my New Year’s resolutions? Well….

First, I suppose we should examine those resolutions so we can have a little background information.  There were two of them. They were….

First, though, we should consider why people make New Year’s resolutions in the first place. That way, perhaps we will understand this situation a little better. We must admit that we all do it. This way, I will not feel alone.

I propose two main reasons people feel compelled to make resolutions at the beginning of new years.

1. People tend to examine their lives at the end of a year. Christmas has just happened—it’s a time of hurrying, buying and giving gifts, a time for expressing love, a season full of emotion and reflection. During the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, many people have gone back home, and school and work have started or will start again soon, in earnest. And we have done a great deal of sitting around and eating during the Christmas season. We don’t feel very good, physically. Emotionally, we are tired and ready for a change.

2. We feel hopeful when we see a beginning. Things can improve. What better time is there to transform ourselves, to make amends, to renovate our lives?

So. With these reasons in mind, we may now examine my two resolutions:

1. I would lose a little weight, exercise more, eat more sensibly. That might sound like several resolutions, but they are actually closely related, as I am sure we can all see.

2. I would become better organized, less halter-skelter, figure out how to control clutter.

I confess that I have not lost weight, although I have not gained any more, either. I exercise about the same amount and eat about the same way I did before Christmas. I have thought more about being organized, and I have worked on it a little bit. Things are about the same as they were.

On January 3, I wrote down in my journal some thoughts about my resolutions and how they would soon change my life. Then I thumbed through the next few days of the journal and made a discovery. On January 5, 2012, I wrote that in 2012, I would work very hard at losing a little weight, exercising, and organizing my life.