By Susan Wordal
Easter season has been celebrated, but if you live in Montana, you wouldn’t know it by the weather this year. I keep seeing white stuff falling from the sky and get pictures from my FB friends with snow up to their knees and/or hips (depending on their height), and think “Winter in Montana, wait 5 minutes…the weather will change”!
But really, Montana weather has always been unpredictable. And right now, we could use a little more of the white stuff in the mountains to carry us through the summer months and the dreaded “fire season”. I find it odd that I have been praying for snow when everyone else seems to be praying for sunshine.
I miss the flowers that usually begin to poke their heads out of the ground this time of year (despite my lack of anything approaching a green thumb). The color is something which brightens the mood and lifts the spirit. I think that’s why we look forward to Spring and green grass. It’s the indicator that the light has come and new life is with us. The lengthening days and the blue of the sky, the white, fluffy clouds and the sound of birds signal new beginnings after the slumber of winter.
Those clear, sunny days, and the bird song which fills the air is still on the horizon. I am seeing more birds in the back yard these days. I hear more than just the sound of the doves and the magpies I’ve seen. And the last two quail hens are still visiting, and sometimes digging down through the snow to find the grass and stay warm. Of course, we are tossing out bird seed for all to share, so it’s no surprise that we have feathered visitors in our yard. I find myself looking forward to seeing what types of birds have come to visit. Just today, I saw some black birds with a streak of yellow/orange on their wings. I can’t remember if I’ve ever seen that type before, and I’m no ornithologist, so I’m not even sure what they are. But they were pretty. My kind of colors, you know?
I see spirits lifting as the quintessential signal of Spring, Easter Sunday, is celebrated. It was good to see more familiar faces in church, and see smiles and laughing eyes glancing around the room to see who was there. We are getting back into the groove of “Passing the Peace” or greeting our fellow congregants by getting up and moving during the service. Life is “getting back to normal” for some of us. It’s a good sign.
Spring has sprung, even if not literally in the flowers outside. But it has opened in our minds and our hearts and for that, we are truly blessed. The flowers will come, the grass will rise and green up again. Then I get to complain about how I’m allergic to fresh-mown grass whenever I mow the lawn. So, join me in welcoming the … “achoo!” … blessings of Spring.
Can I get an Alleluia?
Alleluia!