At the depth of Winter’s dark dormancy, a spark–a glimmer of hope, the return of life. Quietly, without fanfare, bud’s blossom bursts.

In a forest of lifeless branches, a single sign of promise. This beacon of hope springs. As if telling the cold forest wood that again summer’s soft green covering will return. Without subtlety or conformance, the bud explodes color into its lifeless surrounding. We are alive!

Because if I could, I would gladly like to give it to my brother. If it isn’t one thing, then it’s another. This week Doug’s church, Spring of Light Ministries, suffered a devastating loss when the place of worship was destroyed by fire.

My whole life, Doug has sought out obscure bookstores in the most unlikely of places to build his masterful library. The church walls were lined with thousands of Doug’s books and one of his close friends who also stored his books at the church. All told there were 10-15,000 books in the church. The electronics melted, the pews couches burned, and when the fire melted the overhead water pipe the space flooded.

[see all pictures here]

The books are not a total loss, but they are Doug’s passion. It is very sad to know that both the object of his passion and vision of his church went up in flames this week. Of course, Doug is resilient and disconcertingly thankful.

I came across this excerpt from a post that Doug made when discussing his kidney issues:

Instead of continually wondering why our lives are not better, we might cultivate a mindset that wonders why our lives have been so good, so blessed, and so overwhelmingly wonderful. In so doing, we might begin to acknowledge the treasures that surround. Instead of complaining for slow service at restaurant, we might thank the server for their time and effort in meeting our need. We might thank the clerk in the store, we might thank the boss who employs us, we might thank the officer who protects us, we might thank the teachers who instruct us, we might look around with fresh eyes at the innumerable blessings surrounding us each moment.

And most of all, we might thank God who owes us nothing and yet blesses us continually whether we are good and evil.

I am confident that Doug will take this in stride. He won’t make a big deal out of it. I have to. Drop him a note. Send him a book. Pause. Take a moment out of your day to think about all of the good in your life.

Wake from your slumber–you sleepy winter dwellers.  The spring of your life has dawned.  Today is the best day of all of your life to breathe deep and kiss the air that feeds our brain and soul.  Today is the best day to dig your hands into earth’s fresh soil and plant reminders of life.  Today is the day to shout “I AM ALIVE.” Today the suns shines brighter and longer than yesterday.  Today is the first day of spring.

Welcome my long awaited friend.