Spring Revisited

The flowering trees are all abloom in NY, where my folks live. Spring in NY is a month behind Charlotte, thus on this visit to my folks, I have been privileged to see Spring twice in one year. Since Spring is the most beautiful season of the year, I have been given the gift of glimpsing eternity in Heaven. One day, I will open my eyes each day to beauty so astonishing that the only recourse is to bow down in praise -- at least that is how I envision Heaven. For now, I see the rebirth of the flowering cherry, dogwood, Bradford pear and Lilac trees not once, but twice!

The yin to that yang is that the leaves from last fall were never quite dealt with in my parents' yard. They have a full forest of trees, and it is near impossible to gather them all. I did my best last October, but then my visit ended, while the eternal cascade of leaves did not. So, yesterday, I got to try out my dad's new superpower leaf blower. I turned it on and it quickly blew a fuse. Through some trial and error and a consulting neighbor, we were able to restore power. I had dreams of the hurricane strength blower shooting all those leaves in a nice neat pile at a distant corner of the yard where they would decompose quietly with no muss and fuss.

It was not to be.

The old, wet leaves were not eager to be transplanted. They clung tenaciously to all the little roots and snags of tiny stumps that peppered the yard. An hour and a half later, my hands buzzed with an alarming feeling as though filled with electricity, and the dent I had made in the leaves was not nearly as apparent as one would hope. The best I could do was blow them into neater mounds along the fence edges. It was disappointing. I was ready to drop. I just could not hoist the heavy blower any longer.

I wonder if I am alone in noticing that God fills the world with joy and beauty, but in equal measure there is toil and trial. I am struck anew how it would be very easy to fall into the trap of focusing on the toil and trial and lose sight of the blessings that surround me. God warns us against this natural tendency, reminding us to keep our eyes on Jesus and learn to find contentment in the midst of all things...no matter what. I find this easier said than done, nonetheless, it must be done or we perish losing the beauty of Spring.

For the record, two springs in a year is better than two falls.

*************************
Philippians 4:10
¹⁰ I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ¹² I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. ¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.