Long Hollow

The simplicity of winter has a deep moral. The return of Nature, after such a career of splendor and prodigality, to habits so simple and austere, is not lost either upon the head or the heart. It is the philosopher coming back from the banquet and the wine to a cup of water and a crust of bread.

~John Burroughs, "The Snow-Walkers," 1866

Tuesday morning, just days after spring-like temperatures which tempted yellow flowers and redbuds alike to blossom, 

I woke to a world sparkling in tiny icicles. 

That's like life, isn't it? Things are progressing quite well and we take it for granted it will continue.

Then winter returns.

A friend said goodbye to her mother today, so mortality was on my mind more than ever on this first day of Lent.

For my peers, this past year has been one of saying goodbye, of watching loved ones laid to rest, including my own precious Daddy. I guess we've just reached that age.

Ah, if you knew what peace there is in an accepted sorrow!

~ Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon

Sorrow sits on my shoulder. You might not see it, but it settled there more than a year ago when we said goodbye to my father-in-law, and remained as we watched the steady decline of my parents.

I've come to accept its presence. After all, death is part of life, and feeling sorrow is just proof that we love. 

But I've learned that sorrow and joy can live together. In fact, the presence of sorrow often heightens the feeling of joy, by reminding me that life on this earth is short. Time is precious, not to be wasted by half attempts at anything or on things that aren't important in the grand scheme of things.

We offer You our failures,
we offer You attempts;
The gifts not fully given,
the dreams not fully dreamt.
Give our stumblings direction,
give our visions wider view,
An offering of ashes,
An offering to You.

~Tim Conroy

Lent is a time to reflect, to consider what is important in the grand scheme, so you don't waste time on what isn't. To step back and see how well you're doing with the gifts you've been given … to recognize the rough edges that need sanding … to take a breath, and refocus …

… to vow to love fully and completely.

And what could be more important in the grand scheme of things?

"Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor… Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting."

-Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta