This is the day

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118.24

From Toni Clark:

During the week I take my daily walk in the early evening after I have finished work for the day. It’s time for me to switch off from work, which is incredibly busy, and get out of the house (I am very thankful that I am able to work from home during this time). It’s a time for me just be present in the here and now as I explore the village and let my mind wander.  It is so much quieter than a few weeks ago, fewer cars and people and it has made me take notice of my surroundings, the beauty of God’s creation around us waking up for Spring after its Winter sleep.

Last week I spotted cowslips growing wild along the hedgerow at the end of the village. The magnolia and other blossoming trees are looking beautiful as are the tulips all open and reaching sky-ward towards the sun. It really is a beautiful time of year (I also witnessed a “murder” when the local Sparrow hawk caught some poor little bird that didn’t make it to the safety of the conifer tree in time……). There are some lovely gardens around the village, filled with the bright colours of the various spring flowers, and the emerging green of the trees as they come back to life.  The other thing I have noticed is the birdsong. There are a few places around the village where you can hear masses of sparrows chattering to each other in the hedges, and there is the sound of birdsong in the morning – it is quite lovely.

I appreciate that not everyone will be able to go outside, and are therefore missing seeing all this. But I hope that wherever you are, if you look out of your window you can see some of the beauty of God’s creation. I saw on the news various wildlife organisations are putting up webcams to help people see the wonder of nature from the safety of their living rooms, which is a wonderful thing to do especially for those stuck inside.

I know I am fortunate that I can go out and see the glorious emerging Spring and as I walk I am reminded that this beauty I can see and hear is all God’s making. Each year the earth goes into its wintry sleep and each Spring it emerges, first some tiny green shoots followed by the burst of colour in the flowers and blossom, and in the sound of birdsong around me. As I walk, I feel uplifted and joyful knowing that God is always with us, both in the dark and cold of Winter and in the warmth of the Spring sunshine. In that I rejoice – this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.