from Sallie Hart, CSR Intern
My internal journey this Lent has grounded me. Feeling balanced from tending my own spiritual wellness, the spring taught me once again how to pay attention.
The crisp subtle greens of spring unfold and creep up through the dead leaves. Daffodils, red bud trees, forsythia, and azaleas burst with color. The smell of freshly cut grass and the sound of the birds making themselves busy enrich my senses. Again I look forward to the rain and the new life it brings, how it awakens a neon green, on the tips of branches and in patches across the meadows. Slowly the trees extend their delicate baby leaves to the sun, creating a polka dot texture across the mountainsides. The tulips open flat to soak in the precious sunshine and dance in the wind. I’m grateful for the fresh start of Spring.
With my hibernation of winter and Lent over, I welcome being in the moment with others, really living the details. In the end it is about sharing our stories: connecting with our communities, eating together, interacting with nature, finding new ways to pray, and laughing as much as possible. I look forward to the farmers markets, hiking with friends, smelling the flowers, and rocking on the porch. This spring I’ll be at baseball games with the Young Adults, visiting the children’s garden at Grace Waynesville, and having conversations about the Coen Brother movies. I hope you’ll join me!