the air is light today.

i woke up and i knew it was here even before i looked out the window.
i had already heard the chirp of the birds, seen them painstakingly rebuilding their nests in the garden, confidently puffing their chests and ruffling their feathers at their mates.
i had seen the faintest of greens on a tree near the house and upon further inspection saw that it was true...

GREEN buds. the first bit of new growth slowly pushing it's way back into the world.

i woke up and smelled it in the air.

spring is here.

today i took my sweater off.
today there was a small skip in my step.
today there was a strange desire to go outside and soak up the sun.
today i felt the joy of returning to my first love.

when you look up the word “first" in webster's pocket dictionary you will find the definition it begins with is not one referring to time. you will, however see the definition: "before all others".

before you were born.
before your need for air.
before the love for yourself.
before the desire to satisfy.
before your "first" love.
before all others.

GOD.

once again. HE is ultimate in his love for us, although the desire we have to run away is great. the reality i understand in dealing with humans is that love fails. every time. over and over.
the vivid picture of truth that haunts me is that GOD is real. GOD has loved me before i knew what love was. GOD sees me as i truly am. and does more than i could ever understand or see to help me love HIM.

i love spring.

it reminds me that the death of winter has no full hold on this dim world. it reminds me that beauty is in EVERYTHING whether i see it today or not. it astonishes me with life in places i had given over to death. there is rhythm in the way the old passes and the new emerges. the ancient song bursting literally out of the ground and into the existence of our dry and cold reality. today i will look for the flower, even though there is not one yet. why? because i know it's coming, i know it will be soon and i also know that beauty always comes before the fruit.