What’s your favorite season? I recently moved to Florida, and, honestly, Florida does not have seasons. Oh long-time-Floridians will tell you that there are indeed seasons in Florida. But in reality, if you’ve ever lived pretty much anywhere else, you know that there are not really seasons in Florida. My daughter likes to say that Florida has three seasons – hot, not quite so hot, and hurricane. That seems about right.

However, this is not a post making fun of Florida “seasons”. Spring is my favorite season. I love how the whole of creation comes to life again. Of course, if there were no winter, spring would not be as amazing. It is precisely the awakening of nature that makes spring so spectacular for me. When we were living in Texas (admittedly, a state where seasons are a bit wonky compared to some other places), spring was glorious. In winter, the landscape became devoid of color – the “beigeness” of Texas we would say. But in spring….oh the color! It seemed as though every week there was a new variety of wildflower blooming as far as the eye could see.

season blog

Texas, Wilson County, FM 427, oil well, wildflowers: Indian paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa), phlox (Phlox drummondii), coreopsis (Coreopsis sp.)

The beauty of spring has been the inspiration for many artists throughout the centuries. Japanese ink art from the early 1700s captures the vibrant colors of irises blooming in the springtime.

season blog

Working Title/Artist: Yatsuhashi, Ogata Korin
Department: Asian Art
Culture/Period/Location:
HB/TOA Date Code: 09
Working Date:
Japanese. Paintings-screens.
53.7.2 (flat)
Edo Period, 18th Century
Screen, six-panel, one of a pair: Iris and Bridge
(Yatsuhashi)
Ink, Color and gold leaf on paper
H. 70-1/2 in. W. 146-1/4 in.
transparency 5, photographed in 1993
scannned for burke cd-rom in 1999 (phc)

Monet has long been one of my favorite artists, and he, too, was captivated by the beauty of flowers. His garden paintings are instantly recognizable.

The Artist’s Garden at Giverny, 1900 by Claude Monet

I can’t see that painting without thinking of Laura’s most popular work:

© Laura Gabel, "Lovelock's Lavender". Pastel on UArt, framed with a black mat and frame, 15 1/4 x 15 1/4. Private collection.

© Laura Gabel, “Lovelock’s Lavender”. Pastel on UArt, framed with a black mat and frame, 15 1/4 x 15 1/4. Private collection.

I think Laura has captured the essence of why spring draws so many artists in her work entitled “New Life: Psalm 92:14”. This psalm speaks of the righteous flourishing, bearing fruit, being green and full of life even into old age.

season blog

© Laura Gabel, “New LIfe Ps. 92:14”. Acrylic on canvas, 29.25 x 23. $850.

And I think that’s why spring is my favorite season – it is life. The world comes to life after the long sleep of winter.  And I am reminded again of the new, fresh start that comes with the turning of the season.

Just like the earth, our lives have seasons too. When you are in a season of spring, you are awash in the newness of life, of beauty, of vibrancy. But sometimes, we find ourselves stuck in the dull, gray, cold, death of winter. We are waiting for the buds to break forth, but all is still. Christine Hoover has written a new book entitled “Searching for Spring” where she explores what the Bible has to say about this season of winter and of waiting.

season blog

In the coming weeks, I will be reading and sharing my thoughts on the book. For those of you who find yourselves in winter, waiting for spring, I pray your hearts may be encouraged. And for those who are not currently mired in winter, may you store up the riches for the future and to encourage those around you.

10  My beloved speaks and says to me:

“Arise, my love, my beautiful one,

and come away,

11  for behold, the winter is past;

the rain is over and gone.

12  The flowers appear on the earth,

the time of singing has come,”

Song of Solomon 2:10-12

Categories: Potpourri

2 Comments

Christine · February 9, 2018 at 7:59 am

Beautiful!

    Michelle · February 9, 2018 at 8:02 pm

    Thanks, Christine. I’m super excited to read the book!!

Leave a Reply

Avatar placeholder

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.