Open water

Open water. Spring. The two go together. Waterfowl won’t move north until the lakes and rivers are open enough to welcome them. Frogs and spring peepers need open water, too.

Spring is not just a time of new beginnings. It can also mark an opening, or a re-opening, after the hibernations of winter. In winter, it feels natural to huddle around the warmth of a fire while snow rages and temperatures plummet outside. Winter can be a time of learning and of study. But after a while, after a few months, we grow restless. What is at first enjoyable begins to feel a bit claustrophobic.

When spring arrives, the change in temperature and weather encourages greater activity and exploration on our part again. No longer the early hours of darkness. No longer 10 minutes needed to get dressed for the outdoors. Spring is when we first put our winter studies into practice, to see how winter's retrenchment and reflection has taken hold in our souls.

Spring is the time of awareness and growth, the time when we see how the winter has changed us. We should be open again, too, just like the rivers and streams.

Happy spring!