Spring: A Time of Beauty & Renewal

Many thanks to Carol Varsalona for hosting today, and for offering the prompt of "Blossoming on the Spiritual Journey." Let's all keep Carol in our hearts as she has had a significant loss.  She shared this poignant quote: "A world of grief and pain, flowers bloom—even then." --Kobayashi Issa

Following her prompt of blossoming, here are some spring photos from New Jersey:

I posted the following poem when I first started my blog, back in 2019, and today I decided to share it again.  This is by John Neihardt, a Nebraska poet. I heard him recite this poem when he visited the college I attended way back in the day. The poem is so effusive, and when I see spring in New Jersey I see that same effusiveness in nature. It is titled "April Theology" but -- I hope you will agree that it works for May.

April Theology

O to be breathing and hearing and feeling and seeing!

O the ineffably glorious privilege of being!

All of the World’s lovely girlhood, unfleshed and made spirit,

Broods out in the sunlight this morning — I see it, I hear it!

So read me no text, O my Brothers, and preach me no creeds;

I am busy beholding the glory of God in His deeds!

See! Everywhere buds coming out, blossoms flaming, bees humming!

Glad athletic growers up-reaching, things striving, becoming!

O, I know in my heart, in the sun-quickened, blossoming soul of me.

This something called self is a part, but the world is the whole of me!

I am one with these growers, these singers, these earnest becomers —

Co-heirs of the summer to be and past aeons of summers!

I kneel not nor grovel; no prayer with my lips shall I fashion.

Close-knit in the fabric of things, fused with one common passion —

To go on and become something greater — we growers are one;

None more in the world than a bird and none less than the sun;

But all woven into the glad indivisible Scheme,

God fashioning out in the Finite a part of His dream!

Out here where the world-love is flowing, unfettered, unpriced,

I feel all the depth of the man-soul and girl-heart of Christ!

‘Mid this riot of pink and white flame in this miracle weather,

Soul to soul, merged in one, God and I dream the vast dream together.

We are one in the doing of things that are done and to be;

I am part of my God as a raindrop is part of the sea!

What!  House me my God?  Take me in where no blossoms are blowing?

Roof me in from the blue, wall me in from the green, and wonder of growing?

Parcel out what is already mine, like a vender of staples?

See! Yonder my God burns revealed in the sap-drunken maples!

- John Neihardt

Praise God for the mystery and beauty of spring, for the glorious blooms,

for the exuberance of life, and for the promise that we, too, can be renewed.

He makes everything beautiful in its time.  Ecclesiastes 3:11

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Sending my best wishes for a beautiful month.

Life at the Speed of Grace: Finding Beauty

 I turn 75 next month. Three quarters of a century! At times it feels like crazy talk, but of course it is true. I have the documentation. (Tiny chuckle inserted here.)

Life is slowing. I was reminded this summer when I overdid getting some chores done and felt several subsequent repercussions. I had to slow down and rest. Just rest. Time to be still and trust. Be still and listen. Be still and know...

What came of it? A lesson in patience. These are a constant need for me. A lesson in gratitude when I began to feel better, when I found some helpful hints on how to go forward. Gratitude for the ability to search and to learn. Gratitude for a body ready to go again. And a lesson in paying attention to my physical self and taking time to take care. Another constant need.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven...  
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8   

No matter the speed, grace continues to offer the best surprises. In the middle of CostCo recently, a little girl shrieked and I looked up. Our eyes met and she gave me the most knowing and beautiful smile that a tiny child could give. Yes! You got my attention. And for that moment of time, we shared a bit of humor that brightened my day.

Seasons come and seasons go. Each day is a chance to identify works of grace (in our church we call them God sightings), to celebrate, explore, find beauty, share laughter, give thanks.

Here are some images of beauty and grace in my world. 

Delicious beefsteak tomatoes from my garden

I'm trying a couple of fall crops this year... a hopeful venture.

Spider flowers/cleome reseed year after year. Summer ends "in the pink!"

While walking I found this blossom in the midst of wreckage

Peperomia at summer's end.

My peperomia looks so healthy now after breathing in the summer's air and light. I'll bring it in for the winter and it will bring me beauty and joy all winter long.

Thanks to Patricia Franz for this prompt and for hosting this month.

You can find her offering and links HERE.