by Karen Boyd
Spring is here! I suspect all of us are spending more and more time outdoors. Spring is here, there’s little question of that. The trees are blossoming and sprouting new leaves, flowers are beginning to bloom. Squirrels seem to be reveling in the warm weather as they chase each other and seem to love sitting on the fence and teasing my dogs. The dogs are delighted to be out doing dog things and happily chasing the squirrels. Birds are building nests. The hummingbird feeders are once again hanging from the branches of the old oak tree. I’m hoping to once again watch the tiny birds chase each other as they swoop with joy around the sky. My thoughts turn to a few verses in the psalter:
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?
Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honor. (Psalm 8:3-5)
The Psalmist speaks not only of God’s creation but of his love and regard for us as his children. We have passed through probably the most difficult year that we have collectively seen in most of our lifetimes. And then, after the fear and isolation, came a winter storm unique to this part of the world.
Not only are we experiencing a beautiful rebirth of God’s creations but we are also experiencing a rebirth of our church life. How amazing that is to see as we celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord and to know that God has been with us even in the darkest of days and to be reminded that even as death and sadness enter our world, God is stronger and more certain than any evil or trouble that comes our way. The church was empty for so long. Our Eucharist was and still is in part Spiritual, but the promise of God’s Love and Grace remains.
As we watch the earth coming back to life especially so soon after the uncommonly long and hard freeze, I marvel at the tenacity and endurance of God’s creation. These qualities are our God, he creates what he is, beauty, love, strength.
As we come back together, as we venture out we do so each with our own anxieties and in our own time, I pray that we find peace and joy in our return; and compassion and love as we welcome others, in their own time, back into our midst.