Lilac Day
Spring is always a remarkable surprise after a Minnesota winter, but my favorite day in the spring is lilac day.
When we bought our home ten years ago, a woody, bedraggled lilac bush in the backyard gave only stingy blooms. Each year, we thinned a third of the oldest branches from the ground. The beleaguered lilac has survived our ham-handed pruning, blizzards, hail, and ice-storms, and scorched leaves from the nearby barbecue.
But now it explodes with flowers each May. Every year I wait for the day that the blossoms unfold, and I gather armfuls to fill vases in every room.
The scent is liquid confection, and on any other day might be too cloying. But in spring's rain-scrubbed, earthy air, it's a perfect note of sweetness. Each year I also try every tip to make the blooms last. Yet they're fragile. Almost overnight, small lavender petals crumble and fall like a lace hanky; and the lilac's glory passes, leaving me a familiar melancholy.
We wait, we pray. We endure branch-snapping storms. And as God's sun coaxes, we bloom into a fragile, short-lived wonder. Lilac day is short. Life is short. A fistful of decades that amount to the swiftly wilting lilac day.
Lord, let me bring sweetness and beauty in every bud and stem and twig of my life until that day you change my fleeting life into eternal bloom. Amen.
Blessings!
Sharon Hinck
4 comments:
Hi Sharon:
Wow! Thanks for that lovely lyrical look at lilacs! Mine are just starting to form flowers - I can't wait for the full bloom, maybe in a week or so.
I'm curious how you got your post to be dated "Tuesday, May 8," however. It's still Monday, May 7 over here in Eastern Daylight Savings Time!
Is this some trick that goes along with "The Restorer" storyline!! If it's a clue, do I win a prize?? :)
BTW, I tagged you over at my blog for 8 Random Things about Yourself. Stop by if you get a chance!
Girlfriend, can you write! Thanks for sharing this. Lilacs are my faves. But they don't do well in Texas.
Hi, Heather!
Thanks for tagging me - but someone beat you to it (with that same 8 Random Things) - and I wanted to play but am so swamped right now, I didn't get to it.But I LOVED reading your list!
Yes, we fantasy writers do like to time travel (heh heh).
Actually, I was TRYING to set it up to post tomorrow - but it posted right away, but with tomorrow's date. I'm so techno-clueless.
Mary - great minds think alike - I'm glad you also love lilacs. By the way, I let Jenni take a picture of me first-thing-in-the-morning for your challenge, but didn't get it posted (and I could have gotten bonus points because I have bronchitis and looked PARTICULARLY scary).
About 3 years ago I dropped into a black hole – four months of absolute terror. I wanted to end my life, but somehow [Holy Spirit], I reached out to a friend who took me to hospital. I had three visits [hospital] in four months – I actually thought I was in hell. I imagine I was going through some sort of metamorphosis [mental, physical & spiritual]. I had been seeing a therapist [1994] on a regular basis, up until this point in time. I actually thought I would be locked away – but the hospital staff was very supportive [I had no control over my process]. I was released from hospital 16th September 1994, but my fear, pain & shame had only subsided a little. I remember this particular morning waking up [home] & my process would start up again [fear, pain, & shame]. No one could help me, not even my therapist [I was terrified]. I asked Jesus Christ to have mercy on me & forgive me my sins. Slowly, all my fear has dissipated & I believe Jesus delivered me from my “psychological prison.” I am a practicing Catholic & the Holy Spirit is my friend & strength; every day since then has been a joy & blessing. I deserve to go to hell for the life I have led, but Jesus through His sacrifice on the cross, delivered me from my inequities. John 3: 8, John 15: 26, are verses I can relate to, organically. He’s a real person who is with me all the time. I have so much joy & peace in my life, today, after a childhood spent in orphanages [England & Australia]. God LOVES me so much. Fear, pain, & shame, are no longer my constant companions. I just wanted to share my experience with you [Luke 8: 16 – 17].
Peace Be With You
Micky
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