A Poem in Spring
I’ve seen two church signs in the last week that, instead of announcing this week’s sermon or offering a biblical word of encouragement, read simply and pointedly: “Whoever is praying for snow, please stop!”
In that spirit – and knowing that across at least the north half of the U.S. it has been a long and brutal winter – I’ll share a poem a friend sent me, Robert Frost’s “A Prayer in Spring” (though we might read it as a prayer for spring). It is about living in the present, adoring the gifts of the moment, and recognizing and sharing the love of God infused into creation. But just now, it’s also, I think, about hope and trust in the promise. Enjoy!
A Prayer in Spring
Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.
Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;
And make us happy in the happy bees,
The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.
And make us happy in the darting bird
That suddenly above the bees is heard,
The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,
And off a blossom in mid air stands still.
For this is love and nothing else is love,
The which it is reserved for God above
To sanctify to what far ends He will,
But which it only needs that we fulfill.
Robert Frost, from Robert Frost: Collected Poems, Prose, and Plays (Library of America)
Note: Thanks to Stuart for sharing another inspired poem.
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