Even though we had a freeze warning last night and I had to dig up a sweater to go to work this morning, spring is definitely here. The pollen is out of control, and so are the flowers.
The daffodils are tall and bright, and to my delight, the tulips have bloomed. I love how they seek the sun — nothing says joy like a field of pretty flowers, ready to dance in the late afternoon breeze. Even Otis agrees.
I’m having the Lent of my life. I don’t know what that means, exactly, except that I started off with what I thought were clear goals and a plan for some new spiritual exercises.
Instead, I got some heavy fog. The dense kind that makes it difficult to navigate and even more difficult to move quickly. It messed with my state of mind and I had to regroup, feel my way around a little bit.
I can see the light through the trees and fog now, and it settles me, but it’s daily work. I admit I didn’t know what was in store for me that Wednesday morning when I prayed for the Holy Spirit to fill me this season, but here I am, still trudging along, still praying this prayer:
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.
I didn’t exactly take this picture. Exactly. But I framed it. Does that count? My life is imitating art.
I had the pleasure of going to the Vermeer exhibit at The High in Atlanta last year. The Girl with the Pearl Earring was the big draw, so they had this cut out in the lobby. I’m not sure this necessarily promotes seeing great pieces — but hey, it was there, why not pop in the picture?
The exhibit was lovely — as I appreciated Vermeer’s other works, as well, but this is what drew the crowds. Like the Mona Lisa, it was much smaller than I thought.
Also, it occurs to me that the model resembles the actress Laura Carmichael who plays Lady Edith Crawley from Downton Abbey. Follow the links and tell me it ain’t true!
