Even if I'm alone that matchmaker in heaven makes sure that I have a date - all I have to do is go to my window and she is always there waiting. She needs not waste any time to select what she is going to wear or spend time on makeup to cover up her God given natural beauty. She is always perfectly dressed for the season. In the fall she prepares for the cold winter ahead by putting on such a spectular show as she changes from green to yellow and orange and fiery reds, colors that us mortal beings have yet been able to reproduce. Aided by the rays of the autumn sun and the early tinge of frost she provides a grand finale with an explosion of colors much like the finale one observes at a 4th of July fireworks display. She is readying herself to go to sleep for the winter.
It is December and my once open window is now shut to keep the cold air out. Everything is now either black or white or grey. I look out and sigh, yearning for this time to pass quickly. It seems as if we've gone back in time - from technicolor to black and white and from talkies to a silent movie. The movie that unfolds not far from my window stars a few stubborn leaves that do not want to go. It pains me to watch as I notice the cold winds bend the branch that they are clutching on to for dear life. My cries of, "let go, let go," fall on deaf ears. A week later I notice that some have finally succumbed. As time passes I notice how the curtain to the day opens later each morning and closes earlier each night. Sunlight is at a premium. There are days that my window reveals a pristine white scenery - God has decided to cover Mother Nature with a soft and fluffy blanket. As the sun rises its rays warmly touch it and if one looks carefully one can see the sparkle of each kiss as each individual snowflake is melted by the warm rays. I can now understand why St. Francis of Assisi named this great big star that provides us with just the right heat and light we need to survive, Brother Sun. Yes indeed, he is like a big brother to us.
Ever so slowly, in increments of a minute or two each day Brother Sun extends his visit each day. Oh, he is such a welcomed visitor on these long and dark days of winter. He gives us hope. The southwesterly winds of a new day cause the warm air to tease us for a day or two maybe even three. I watch Mother Nature slowly rise from its sleep. I even notice tiny little heads peeping out from under their winter homes. The first to come out must be hearty souls as they are taking a chance that there will be no more frost. They are the scouts that go ahead and make sure that it's safe for the others. Unfortunately their fate at times, more often than not, are just like the fate of mercenaries.
Their rising from a long sleep is welcomed with the song of the first robin who out of nowhere has come "bob bob bobbin along." All of this new life and rebirth comes at just the same time when the church celebrates the Easter season, the Resurrection, how apropos. Out of my window I see the browns, greys and other dull shades are now being replaced by different shades of green. As each day passes different pastel colors are added in and finally by May the many who left in the autumn have come back. It's as if the page to the coloring book is now almost completed - a page that was once black and white has now come alive in color.
I am so happy to have all my friends back. Yes, outside my window I can see (like the song says) that, "It's a beautiful morning, each bird keeps singing his own song," and how there are, "children with robins and flowers," and that "sunshine caresses each new waking hour."
As I loook outside my window I'm reminded of Robert Brownings's words;
The year's at the spring
And day's at the morn:
Morning's at seven;
The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn:
God's in His heaven--
All's right with the world!
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment