As Comes the Breath of Spring, Once Again

 

1 As comes the breath of spring with light and mirth and song,

so does your Spirit bring new days brave, free, and strong.

You come with thrill of life to chase hence winter's breath,

to hush to peace the strife of sin that ends in death.

2 You come like dawning day with flaming truth and love,

to chase all glooms away, to brace our wills to prove

how wise, how good to choose, the truth and its brave fight,

to prize it, win or lose, and live on your delight.

I love all the seasons in Canada, at least when our human-altered climate behaves itself and allows Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter to reveal their true character. We enjoyed our wintry February although we didn't admit this to everyone.

While at other times I might have declared that I don't have a favourite I now feel that Spring speaks to my soul the most because even though the rhythms of the seasons are no longer dependable this is the time of emergence, the resurrection moments of Creation in this hemisphere that reflect the Resurrection hope of Easter. 

While it seems that Spring has been slow to take hold here are a few of the signs we've witnessed in these weeks since March 21st. 

    Bald eagle pair

    Painted turtles

    Loon in flight (heard)

    Multiple pairs of ospreys 

    Buds on backyard lilacs, pagoda dogwood, tulip tree, serviceberry

    Wood ducks and mergansers

    Spring peepers & Chorus frogs (heard)

    Lengthening days

    Wilson's snipe (heard)

    Red-winged blackbirds

    Garlic shoots in a raised bed

    Otter

    Blue herons

    Dawn chorus, dawn chorus, dawn chorus!

In the days ahead the list will lengthen and we'll do our best to pay attention as a form of prayer and to celebrate each occasion. We've been out in our canoe a couple of times, once on the Bay of Quinte, and there have been plenty of delights despite the predominant earth tones and trees without leaves. 

 I've included one of my favourite hymns with words nearly a century old. I'm glad that the fresh breath of Spring does give chase to Winter's halitosis. And yes, Christ, newborn, gives strength and joy. 

3 You come like songs at morn that fill the earth with joy,

till we, in Christ newborn, new strength in praise employ.

You come to rouse the heart from drifting to despair,

through high hopes to impart  life with an ampler air.

4 You breathe and there is health; you move and there is power;

you whisper, there is wealth of love, your richest dower.

Your presence is to us like summer in the soul;

your joy shines forth and then life blossoms to its goal.