It is “sprintertime” now in Minnesota for spring is challenging winter to “let go.” Even so farmers have begun tilling, plowing, and sowing seeds in the hope of warm breezes and sweet refreshing rain to soften the hard earth so the little shoots can come through. What does spring mean for us? Buds are unfolding in the trees. Colors of spring are dancing out of winter’s gloom—purple, yellow, and white crocuses knife their way through frozen ground covered with snow. Yellow daffodils, jonquils, and tulips of various colors appear in people’s yards. What hope these signs of resurrection give to those who are strolling down paths, wandering through meadows and woods where one might be surprised by the joy of seeing a deer. Then, too, there are the sounds of spring: robins and cardinals singing their songs of praise, wild turkeys gobbling, and children out playing with lighthearted joy. ~ S. Magdala Winter, Minnesota
Along the road near Chatawa, lavender wisteria drips from trees. Yellow daffodils burst out along the road; pink wisteria mixed with magenta pushes upward. Green pasture grass spreads across the field. White magnolias are popping out amid dark-shining leaves. And a flock of new born lambs are playing along the road. On my early morning run I am singing with the cardinals, the jays, the sparrows. ~ S. Pat Wamser, Mississippi
In Three Rivers, California the snow is melting fast off the mountains. We are experiencing a severe drought with less than half of our normal rainfall. The hills are still green and the wildflowers are everywhere. However within a few weeks everything will be dying back; the flowers and the grass will become the golden dry brush that marks the dry season of the Central Valley of California. Without enough water to fill the reservoirs for irrigation the farmers of the Central Valley, who supply a large portion of the fruit and vegetables for the U.S., are really hurting and scaling back what they can produce this year. And everyone here in California is hoping and praying that we can make it until next fall without a major wildfire. ~ S. Danielle Witt, California
Spring is the start of a new year in Japan. The school year ends on March 31 and starts again on April 1. Freshmen are getting used to school life and life in Kyoto little by little. Spring means a new start for us as Easter is in spring. Easter also means new life for both Catholics and non- Catholics. Cherry trees and cherry blossoms are so important for us; they are the symbol of our new life and new season. ~ S. Dominica Sento, Japan
Photo credits: turkey, S. Mary Kay Gosch; cherry blossoms, S. Dominica Sento;
yellow-gold wildflowers in CA and Three Rivers in CA, S. Danielle Witt.