Balancing May

As spring progresses, the world starts blooming and greening and growing! The tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and iris provide color and natural beauty. The hostas and grass seem to grow while I watch! The cardinals and robins are regular visitors, but the orioles are new.  have even spotted a hummingbird. Barring a frost, our dwarf Anjou pear has more buds than I can ever remember. There is no question this is a month of growth and new life.

 

May is also a time of reflection. Mother’s Day, Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day all fall within the month of May. I had some random thoughts about these holidays:

— The last time we celebrated Mother’s Day with my mom was 2009. Interestingly, we were in the Sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek. She attended “Fish Tales” — a musical presented by the youth of our church.

–On May 21, 2022 (Armed Forces Day) we were tending to some family graves in Portland, Michigan. These included a Civil War veteran, a WW I casualty and two charter members of the American Legion Auxiliary.

–While my Mom often referred to Memorial Day as Decoration Day, my parents disdained anything but plants and flowers in the cemetery. At the Beard Cemetery, I will plant two urns of begonias in the shade and a bed of salvia in the sun. I think there is something about the dirt, water, sunshine and fresh air that is a perfect medium for reflection. There is some bending and stretching, too. For some this is simply a spring ritual, for others it is a spiritual discipline or exercise. For me, it is both. 

 

 I hope your reflections provide nutrients and fertilize the seeds and plants you nurture this year.

 

“All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings,

God made their glowing colors; God made their tiny wings.”

Nathan Martens