Today is the kind of day that comes to mind when I think about spring. Sunny, with the temperature around 65 degrees and a slight chill to the breeze, the air is so clean it just feels good to breathe it in deeply. The grass is freshly cut and green, the redbud is in full bloom and you can see the first green leaves of the season on the lilac bush behind it.
I’ve found it a challenge this spring to enjoy each emerging sprout. In past years, I would take my coffee out and make a round of the yard, surveying all the beds in search of the new signs of life. Lately, I’ve allowed the grim reality of what is going on in other parts of the world and our own country dominate my thoughts, keeping me inside and too distracted to go out and look around.
The realization has begun to sink in that our current situation will not be resolved in the next week or so, or probably even by the end of next month. With that, being the adaptable creature I am, I am finding ways to seek out the joy that is truly ever present in my life, even in the tough times.
On a bright, sunny day like today, with so many dormant plants springing to life, it’s not as difficult to see that there will be an end to the sickness and death. Life will go on and all will be well.
I did get one reminder from the garden today.
I discovered this solitary red tulip coming up in front of St. Francis. It was mistakenly left behind when we moved what we thought were all of our tulips to another location by the birdbath. But, despite our best efforts, this little guy managed to avoid capture and is currently blooming his little head off. When I saw him this morning he reminded me that I really need to be more thorough in my cleaning and hand washing. Just because I think I’ve gotten all of the germs washed off, I might not have. Wouldn’t want any of the virus germs “blooming” in me.