Can't Stop Spring

by Sifu Nick Francis

Please forgive me as I take a moment to inappropriately complain...

I don't want to. I don't mean to...

- but-

I will!

I don't like spring!

There, I said it and I feel bad doing so! Honestly, I truly don't just feel bad about saying this, even more so, I don't want to say it! For some reason, I find it easier to be drawn to the negative side of things!

Just as a confession, these were some of the thoughts running through my mind as I was driving home from class today.

I don't like spring because to me it means...

• It's hot then cold (repeat). Winter then summer (Repeat). There is no spring!

• Pollen means allergies. 🌳

• Mowing the lawn (I hate yard work)

• Bugs, Bugs, Bugs! (I hate bugs)🐜 🕷️

• Summer is just ahead (& summer is really, really hot!)🥵

• Oh, the mosquitos (I guess that's more bugs!) 🦟

- and then-

My mind shifted then to what first come to mind when I think of winter.• Hibernation

• Cold & Barren

• Long Nights (of darkness)

Then I started to ponder.

The changing of seasons really is a mysterious and wonderful thing.

• Life returning.

• Nature awakening.

• All things becoming made new.

It's a miracle taking place before my very eyes.

So what's my point?

My point is, wow! I cannot do this! Even on my best day, I cannot make this happen.

I cannot make spring happen!

I cannot make the trees and flowers bloom. I cannot make the warmth return to our days. I cannot make the sun stay awake till a later hour.

It is truly beyond me!

I can however join in and follow along. I cannot contribute, but I can participate (if I choose to). I can appreciate all the change if I am willing to see the opportunity all around me.

Honestly, this idea awakened me to realize that beauty can be found in all seasons if we know where to look. Learning to see it and appreciate it while we are in the middle of it is the skill we can learn. Because this is just it, it is going to pass and soon it is gone forever.We can either look for the beauty in all the seasons, or be critical instead.Maybe instead of looking for the good, we can be the ones creating the good! The change we create becomes the path in which we grow and change.Patiently. Persistently.

We cannot stop the changing of seasons no matter how hard we try. We all have to weather the hard ones, yet also hopefully enjoying the joyful ones. Regardless, we move constantly through one on to the next.

The goal then isn't how the season treats us, but how we treat the season.

So, here is the good news (and the bad news).

If the season you are in is filled with hardship,

the good news is that this season will pass.

Likewise,If the season you are in is filled with beauty, goodness & plenty,

the bad news is that this season will pass.

We must never forget that we are all caught in the passing of a season. My hope, perhaps, is that we can learn to appreciate the value of the one we are in along with those people around us who are in it with us!

... before it's the last!

Thanks for reading and thanks for sharing this season with us!

Happy Spring!