At the Crossroads of Spring and Winter

Yesterday was a typical "early Spring" rainy day.  There is still frost in the ground, so the puddles were bound to form more quickly as the soil resists absorbing the moisture.  The only hints of green that I was able to discern came from the moss on the oak trees.  By this time of year, even our evergreen trees are less green than they are for much of the year.  Their color has been dulled and they exhibit a bit of brown and yellow.

The grasses are not yet ready to come out of dormancy and some of the plants that have emerged are still nestled in the residue of plant matter from the past growing season.  I've noticed that daffodils and crocus have broken the surface of the ground, but they aren't quite interested in exposing themselves above the leave litter and mulch that we are keeping in place for a while yet.

We are at the crossroads between seasons.  There are still crisp, frosty days in sight.  Many of those days are certainly behind us, as this picture illustrates - but they could also still make an appearance in our future.  This is my yearly reminder to all of us that we've gotten measurable snow as late as May 4 on the farm since we have been here.

Ahead of us are also days that hold the awakening of our trees and perennial plants.  Already some of our birds are returning and speaking to us of nests, tasty insects, gentle rains and a new generation soon to arrive.  But yesterday, they were more interested in shelter than conversation.

For now, we stand at the crossroads.  It is here that things are brown, muddy and, frankly, difficult to love.  As a farmer, we often refer to this time as "mud season."  It's too early to do many things and too late to do others.  It's a crossroads that we stand at, preparing and waiting to begin our journey down the path of Spring.

The redemption for this time lies in what we can see from here.  We can still see the beauty of a hoarfrost on the trees and we can also sense the impending promise that Spring always provides.  While things may not seem attractive today, we cannot and should not miss the beauty that surrounds us at the crossroads.  This beauty comes from the great value that preparation for change has in this world.  Not every moment is glorious and invigorating.  And, just because these moments are not those things, it does not make them any less important - and any less valuable.

So, while you and I might not identify these days as our favorites, we still need to respect the process and remember that things that are important and necessary have no requirement to also be attractive to us, as human beings.  There are others on this Earth that find things beautiful that we do not, and for reasons that we can't fathom.  That's where I find value for this world at the crossroads.