Transition

Ravaged trees wear their scarred and broken limbs as forlorn witnesses to the recent ice storm, while yet thrusting their proud trunks to the sky. On some of these injured, stalwarts are the first hints of blossoms and the rest of the springtime paraphernalia.

There are other people who also suffered strong and resilient. The birds are back communicating with their warbling jabber at ruined nest and last year's welcome. Temperature and prevailing winds moderate at the new time of resurgent life. The very sky remembers a clear cerulean blue rebirth after a cruel winter's lash. At last came the time of equinox and, with it, a muted sense of rejoicing. For unlikely as it must seem, one must count into these remarks the bitter remembrance of personal loss when a loving spouse and best friend was called home by an all-knowing Lord. One grieves while the earth swings into this time of former joy.

As our newspaper goes to press this writer remembers a single date of bliss noting the anniversary marking 32 years of marriage that blended two souls. The loss is sometimes heavier than one can manage. Suddenly, though, the springtime stays as lovely as it ever did negating the sense of loss and reminding one of the certainties of resurrection and reunion on this very early made new. Faith always trumps reason and stays strong so that we may bear witness to the eventual joys we can only see now as through a glass darkly --- yet later face-to-face. In a better time we must keep our souls attuned to the promises of reunion to keep us strong.

God invented Springtime to remind his best creatures --- humankind --- of His love and caring throughout the eons of times as recounted. He is conversant only with eternity, seeing death as but an interlude. Those of us who feel the agony are well advised to keep our intimacy with the Deity and everyday conversation. Long have I waited for His reply to my plaintive crying down the winds for an expression of His caring.

He sent the Springtime, and that will suffice.