Renewal

 find myself reflecting on the messages of  Spring offered by the different religions and cultures around the world. Christians (Easter), Jews (Passover), Hindus (Holi), Sikhs (Vaisakhi), and Buddhists (Vesak), all are a formal way of acknowledging and celebrating the renewal of Spring. 

Spring brings the birth of many species, it brings renewed growth of plants and trees, it offers replenished resources and opportunities. It's like a whole new world.

However, the concept of renewal, regrowth, replenishing has become foreign and distant in our modern, tech driven world. Many of us are so caught up in the daily of modern life, we can find renewal and replenishing an inconvenience; a pain to deal with if we notice it at all.

Why?

Perhaps because it takes us out of our comfort zone of predictability and steadiness. It requires attention, focus and an attitude of mindfulness to observe the world as it transforms through the seasons. Or, it does if we're to gain from the experience.

How do you observe the Spring season? Do you observe a religious holiday or commune with nature another way? Do you even notice except by looking at the calendar (or dealing with the time change)? 

Consider taking a moment during your daily practice to observe, really observe and appreciate the fact the world continues to faithfully spin around the sun and every 12 months, we get another 365 days to observe, to be mindful and to be grateful for the opportunity. With practice, each day becomes the start of a whole new year of opportunities for renewal and replenishing. We don't have wait for spring.