Spring has arrived...

Spring is an exciting time of year. The weather usually gets warmer, trees are blooming, small creatures are raising their heads and songs of the birds fill the air. As a Catholic, Spring reminds me of Lent since we are smack dab in the middle of the Lenten season when the first day of Spring arrives. I never give it deep thought since I know spring is coming and I welcome it and I usually know what to expect. This year it has new meaning to me. These past few weeks have been heavy on the heart and soul of who I am. My family is trying to dig out of the winter of our lives and seek hope in the new beginnings Spring promises. We have had our share of the winter blahs by way of car wrecks, house floods, yard leaks, things needing repairs, heartaches and illnesses. We were waiting for a flash of light that reminds us that it will all be okay....and then today we awoke by the glorious light of the sun on a day known as "Spring" and I knew .....it will all be okay. I am reminded that is it time to do Spring Cleaning which usually means to clean out the closets, take the rugs outside and beat them, throw away all the things that bog you down or that have no place in your life anymore. Is it just a coincidence that this is also what we need to do with our hearts and souls during Lent? Isn't this what Lent is about; Cleansing the soul to be rid of the things that keep you from focusing on the true importance of the Easter season? Today as I start my cleaning out of sock drawers, hall closets and kitchen cabinets, I will purge my soul of things that have weighed me down. I will fill that void with prayer and thanks to God for his generous blessings. It will be a slow process and will probably take me until Easter weekend but I can assure you when I am doing my final chore of washing all the windows, not only will I see the light shining through the panes of glass but I will feel the warmth of the light He has placed within me. Enjoy the spring and know there is a much stronger light on the way.