The World Awakes!

Spring Revival

“Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new and brilliant clothes.”

                                              Carl Friedrich Gauss

My friend, Andy, and I drove my old truck north to Florence, AL on Tuesday to pick up church furniture. Pilgrim contracted with an artist, Robin Wade, to make an altar, lectern, baptismal font, and side tables for our new sanctuary. Robin works with native wood; the natural curves and blemishes part of his art. The new pieces are smooth and beautiful, yet still as organic as the cherry tree from which they came.

As we drove up, we talked about spring covering the land—every hardwood tree now grasshopper green with pale yellow pollen forming an aura in the air around it. In just one week of warm weather, the trees almost fully leafed out. It's as if the leaves and flowers had been hiding inside the limbs, just waiting for the sun's clarion call to pop out, fully formed.

Much of northern Alabama is still rural and agrarian. Farmers there had turned their fields of winter rye under and spread fertilizer for the spring planting. Believe me, you can't miss which ones are organically fertilized! The smell was enough to sting my eyes and make me roll up the truck windows. I guess I've lived in the city too long, my nose now used to smog, but not manure. It smells like sweet perfume to the farmers who have been waiting all winter to get back to what they love best.

This year the Japanese cherry trees have been prettier than ever—like earthbound clouds of pale pink, they grace the greening neighborhoods and parks. Dogwoods are opening, full of white crosses. Honey bees, bumble bees, and red wasps, together, work the holly flowers outside my kitchen window. They must have a spring truce to gather nectar without incident—hunger will overcome most odds. The world awakes and beauty is everywhere.

Andy built a raised bed garden for me—six by six feet. Just the right size for tomatoes, sugar-snaps and squash. I plant this weekend, and the squirrels and I will battle all summer for the produce—they win, always.

Spring renews Earth's urge to procreate. Squirrels chase one another around tree trunks, woodpeckers hammer gutters, little birds squabble and sing like their hearts will burst. Energy bound tightly through the winter now brakes forth from every living thing to rejoice in the cycle of life.

Wherever you are, I hope you're outside rejoicing, too.

                                                  In the spirit,

                                                     Jane