Monday, April 21, 2008

Spring's Lessons: We Know It's Time


“Rejoice always.” John Adams

The wildflowers are in full bloom now, resplendent in all their vibrant glory. The ducks are mating down by the pond, pairing up, strutting together side-by-side. Two Stellar’s Jays are building a new nest in the rafters outside our bedroom window, one scavenging for twigs and twine, the other constructing a little home from it all. The forsythia is decked out in bright yellow blossoms along the house and the peach tree nearby is donning pale pink buds.

And, of course, the bats are back. They always take up residence in the front porch rafters come in the Spring where they stay through the Fall.

Spring is here … they know it … even if we don’t. It’s cold. Really cold. It was 23 this morning. It doesn’t seem like Spring. But still they know it’s time to begin doing what needs doing this time of year.

So, how come we don’t know? We fret and worry and wonder and doubt. Is now the time to do this or that? Shall I plunge ahead? Shall I wait? Or shall I just forget it?

I think we do know, just as they do. We know when it’s time to act; when it’s time to wait. We just don’t pay attention to what we know. We have the blessing and the curse of being able to think about what we want and don’t want. The opportunity to question what we know. The chance to confuse ourselves with various scenarios. Instead of listening to our inner knowing.

Instead of doing what we know we need to do, what it’s time to do, we think about what we think we want to do. Since the two are not always the same, so we get confused, frustrated, irritated.

Over the past half-century, we in our society have come to believe we can be, do and have whatever we want whenever we want it. Even if we have many burdens we still have a sense that if we just play it all right we’ll be able to live whatever dream we have and many of us have done just that, sometimes at a great toll of overwork, stress, exhaustion, and sacrifice of daily pleasures.

At the same time we tell the pollsters that what we need is more time to rest, to be with family, to enjoy ourselves, and we hope that someday we will.

As I watch life all around me in this Spring-infested forest, I wonder why we’re waiting to do what we really need to do. Why we get so distracted by things we think we want that don’t give us what we need. I'm grateful Spring is here bursting forth all so boldly in defiance of the cold chill that tarries from Winter's fading bite to remind me how often what we need to begin, begins with what we need to end.

Maybe that’s what Spring-cleaning has so long been about. Clearing away all the stuff we don’t really want anymore, the stuff that isn't like what's going to be, to make room for what we really need when the time comes.

I woke up this morning feeling a need to clear out the bookshelves and the closets. Oh, but I didn’t want to do that. It didn’t sound like much fun. I’d rather create something new … like this newsletter. Suddenly that’s what I really wanted to do!

Now I know why. I needed to let Springtime remind me to listen to what I need … so, the boxes are out and I’m clearing out all this stuff!!! Making room for what it will be time for next. I'll know what that is soon. It's in the making. It's Springtime.

Spring blessings,
Sarah

“Look on the bright side.” Bo Bice

5 comments:

smilnsigh said...

I was so happy to see your Spring entry! Spring has been long coming, in my neck of the woods. But it seems to really be here, now.

I love anything about what you call "listening to our inner knowing" and what I call {rather not so classily} "our gut feeling." 'Tis the same, no matter with what words we say it. And what better time to really try to pay attention to it, than Spring? It seems to go with Spring, in such a perfect way.

I wish you well with listening to your inner knowing. {I like your words best} And I wish myself, and all of us... the same.

Happy Spring,
Mari-Nanci
Smilnsigh
Photos-City-Mine

g said...

Thanks for the wise reminder that we renew our lives by living in harmony with our inner seasons.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hello Sarah!

I am happy to see another beautiful post by you!

Spring arrived a little late here in NYC, but finally the trees are in bud, and the birds are busy building their nests, and the hint of warm weather has been promised! It is very uplifting to my spirit.

Your photos are all so lovely! I would be thrilled to see that wildflower display someday!

Hugs, Pat

Unknown said...

Thank you, Sarah, for these encouraging words. They lift my spirit today in the midst of some especially hectic days.

In Minnesota we're still waiting for those first sprouts of Spring and I am eager to see them and feel the warmth of the sun on my face. Not long now.

Terri

Unknown said...

Even here in the Sonoran Desert, where spring still holds reign before the blistering heat of summer arrives, the magnificent cactus flowers are bursting forth in splendor and an amazing diversity of more subtle and delicate wildflowers fill the desert with color. Mourning doves cooing their mating calls awaken me at dawn each morning. Even here are beings responding to their "inner knowing" of how to "be spring." Thanks to them and to you, Sarah, for this wonderful, timely reminder.

With appreciation,
Allison