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This winter has been damp, gray and dreary in Arkansas. Although we haven’t seen much cold weather, the sogginess of it has caused me to stay inside most of the time. Then came the last few days, the latter part of February and first part of March. Now I’m seeing a preview of what’s to come. What I’ve been seeing, the white blossoms on the Dogwood trees, and daffodils poking their heads out, as if they’re getting a whiff of the early spring air, give me an impressive gander at life itself.

I could be wrong, but I think most people think of heart and lungs encased within sinews, bones and an outer epidural layer as life. We look at the miracle of the human body and all the warm- and cold-blooded animals around us as the most obvious examples of life on earth. Although I can understand that limited perspective of life, there is a much more expansive way to perceive life on our little blue ball. Spring is the perfect time of the year for me to get a universal feel for what life really is.

As far back as I can recall, even when we’ve had the most frigid of winters, spring comes early in Arkansas and the rest of the Southern United States. As I mentioned earlier, I’m seeing softwood trees blooming and daffodils itching to share their beauty with winter weary denizens already. According to the calendar, the spring equinox won’t occur until Mach 20. By the mid-April, I’ll see my Apple tree that I planted in my backyard last year showing signs of life; life that simply took a nap for the last few months. My lawn, my Crape Myrtles, rose bushes and more will reach for the sky, as if they’re stretching their muscles to be the best they can be for the rest of the growing season. Then, with the precision of a digital clock, they will fall into deep slumber again to protect themselves from the harsher climes of October through February.

Life, though created by God, is still a mystery. It’s a system that’s connected in ways we cannot see. Each component is depended on the other to support the whole. It’s confusing to me how all humankind can’t see and be amazed at the awesomeness of life and all it has to offer. God Himself, according to ancient scripture, looked at creation at the point of completion and thought it to be very good. I can only imagine the glow of universal life that shone on everything at that time. With my small imagination, I tend to liken spring to that time; a time when I can see all things plant and animal trying their best to show their shiny best.

Give me spring…a veritable portrait of life in its many portrayals.

I’m old and blessed…hope you will be too.